南非艺术家为反垃圾战做贡献

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Artist Nereus Patrick Cheo is bringing together disadvantaged children and grooming them for war against garbage dumps in the largest city of Cameroon, Douala.
"I actually work with street children, orphans and minors in prison. I implant in them this culture of using art to produce things that you can make a living out of, and at the same time use art to make the environment clean," Cheo declares.

"That’s the part I’m playing. That’s the change I’m making in their lives. There’re lots of them I’ve taken off the streets," says Cheo

Cheo’s father, himself an artist, taught him how to be creative, by utilizing locally available materials for art.

Taking it to another level

Accompanied by his army of trained artists, the dread-locked Cheo rakes through foul-smelling refuse dumps for solid wastes, including plant leaves, paper, fabrics, plastics, electronic chips and computer casings.

He then transforms them into fine-looking flower jars, beads, statues and murals. He says such outings are usually an ordeal, but they do draw public attention to his work.

“Generally when I collect from the [garbage dumps], people mock me. However when I assemble and produce art, people rush behind me [to see what I’ve produced]. So far, Cameroonians are getting very much interested in arts. Be it recycled painting or sculpture, they always respond and ask lots of questions,” Cheo says.

He is not not discouraged

Cheo often showcases his works within and beyond Cameroon and has created an association called Kids4Peace to teach underprivileged children fine arts courses. Classes are held in the streets as he lacks a workshop.

The kids consider Cheo a godsend. He uses money made from selling some of his artwork to buy material for the street classes. Some of the works, like paper beads and necklaces made from dumped newspapers, sell like hotcakes at exhibitions.

Cheo not only uses art to protect the environment, but for social justice.

He wants to empower street children, and make them feel like they are stars. Cheo, a member of the International Children Arts Fund, ICAF, is preparing his students for the upcoming Art Olympiad, which will be held in 2011 in the United States. He also hopes to go to the Olympic Games in the United Kingdom.