The local arts community is mourning the passing of Andrew Juman, who was renowned for his sign artistry.
Juman, 46, died from a cardiac arrest at 8.30 am last Friday at Dr. Balwant Singh’s Hospital, where he went for treatment after he had been complaining of discomfort, his wife, Chandrowtie Juman, said yesterday.
Juman had undergone a triple bypass surgery in India 10 years ago but had no complications or issues since then, she added.
Juman was well known for his creative pieces at GuyExpo and the annual Deepavali Motorcade. He was also known for his artistic input and opulent sets created for the annual Naya Zamana productions. One of his passions was working to preserve and foster Indian cultural traditions and to heighten awareness about them.
Most likely you would have seen one of Juman’s creations, although you might not have known it was done by him.
Juman’s Andrew Arts is a sign-making business that he set up to produce quality work through creativity and innovation. It has produced signs for Igloo, the Roti Hut, Money Gram and many more businesses around Guyana.
Singer and songwriter Dave Martins, in his ‘So-it-go’ column in the Sunday Stabroek last year, had highlighted Juman for setting an example in the way he maintained his business and its environs.
“In an environment where many business places are showing neglect, Andrew’s premises stand out for the immaculate condition of the building and the grounds. The workers in his company are constantly involved with painting and maintenance work (the building and fences always look freshly painted) and the parapets and greenery are regularly trimmed,” he wrote.
“We stay on top of things; we don’t wait for it to go bad,” Juman was quoted as saying in the column. “From young I’ve been that way, and I try to keep the standard up. It also reflects on my business; people appreciate it,” he also said.
Meanwhile, the Indian Action Committee also noted Juman’s passing. In a press release, it stated, “He was an extremely creative person who engineered fresh ideas into the art form of signage and branding which he mastered and, in many ways, contributed to its positive transformation. Over the years, the knowledge of his work created much anticipation among Guyanese who flocked vantage points to view his creativity in the annual Deepavali Motorcade.”
Many fans of his floats expressed the void that was created by his passing, The Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha also expressed similar sentiments. His floats designed for the Diwali Motorcade on behalf of the Beharry Group of Companies will be missed.
Juman will be cremated today.
His body will be viewed at his residence, Lot 4 Area K Ogle Plantation, East Coast Demerara, from 10 am. His cremation will then take place at the Good Hope Crematorium at 12.30 pm.
He is survived by his wife and their daughter, Mishal Juman. Chandrowtie said she was particularly saddened that her husband did not get to see their 12-year-old daughter attend her first day at the Bishops’ High School yesterday. It was his desire that she attended a top secondary school.
