The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security (MoHSSS) had awarded the winners of its recent Domestic Violence Design Competition.
Leon Hardowar emerged as the winner while Roberto Teekah took second place in the competition, which saw the ministry inviting artists to submit works depicting the elimination of violence against vulnerable groups, including women and children, with the hashtag “EnoughWithThe Violence.”
According to a press release issued by the ministry on Friday, Hardowar’s piece, titled “Spare the Rod; Save The Child,” copped first place in the competition, while Teekah got second place for his two pieces, “Cooperate to Eliminate Domestic Abuse” and “No Place For Violence.”
Hardowar revealed that his painting was inspired by the physical punishment that many Guyanese and Caribbean parents use to discipline their children. “This type of abuse often results in scars, both physical and mental. My painting depicts a child, kneeling on the ground caught in the act of drawing on the wall. The drawing is of a happy family, one that the child dreams of,” the release quoted Hardowar as saying. He added that parents often resort to physical violence as an outlet of their personal issues but that it is important to realise that children are most vulnerable at young ages and need to be protected.
Meanwhile, Teekah explained that his first piece “Cooperate to Eliminate Domestic Abuse” shows a group of people from various background joining together to put an end to domestic violence. “I believe that representing victims in this manner is important. It is important to remind them that they are not alone. We are in this together; we are stronger together. The message being conveyed by this work of art is loud and clear. We are strongest together, and together, we can eradicate this societal ill,” he said. Teekah’s second piece is the map of Guyana filled with portraits of Guyanese women and children. He stated that he refrained from the cliché representation of a battered victim as he thinks that this can make victims feel as though they are stuck in their situation.
“It is important for artwork to inspire and uplift abuse victims so that they can stand up and seek help. We must remind victims that they are not in this alone, they have a large community willing to support them- including the Ministry,” Teekah added, explaining that the map is filled with beautiful and strong faces shows that Guyana is full of love and peace so there is no room for domestic violence.
Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud congratulated the two artists and presented them with cash prizes. She told the them that she loves their paintings and hopes to see more of their work in the future. She pointed out that when the idea was conceptualized, the competition was only part of a bigger vision. “It is my hope that one day soon, with the efforts of the ministry and a cooperative society, domestic abuse will no longer be a plague to our growing society, and I think this artwork is one small step in that direction,” Persaud said.
