Rolands Tibirusya (Centre), a visual artist painting as children with special needs look on during the art lesson at Kampala School for the Physically Handicapped.
The inspiration to support children with special needs was through a conviction according to Rolands Tibirusya, a visual artist.
RolandsTibirusya, a visual artist explains some of the Covid-19 art pieces he painted/created during an interview at Kampala School for the physically handicapped inMengo, Wakiso district on 8th December 2022. Photo by Juliet Kasirye
“Though we are just differently able-bodied, the people should not look at the disability of a person; they should rather look at one’s ability and work because it is their way of progressing,” says Tibirusya.
A child with special needs painting a recycled bottle of a plant. Most children living with disabilities enjoy painting because it makes their brains busy with thinking. Basically, art is something most children enjoy. Photo by Juliet Kasirye
As a way of giving back to the community, Tibirusya and his colleagues volunteered to train children with special needs how to paint. The artists included Osbert Mugisha, Hilda Wandera, and Derrick Walukune.
A child looking at a displayed painting of a woman wearing a face mask. During the rough times of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, Rolands Tibirusya, a commercial artist created art pieces that depict the standard operating procedures applied by Ugandans to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.
During the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, children were taught how to draw, mix colours, and also paint recycled bottles.
A child with special needs drawing a man and his surroundings during the art lessons at Kampala School for the physically handicapped in Mengo, Wakiso district on 8th December 2022. Drawing ultimately is a child’s way of expressing what they enjoy and love. Photo by Juliet Kasirye
Tibirusya has been a live painter for almost 15 years and has a bachelor’s degree in industrial and fine art from Makerere University.
A collection of recycled bottles that Rolands Tibirusya, a commercial artist, and children with special needs painted during the Covid-19 pandemic. As a way of giving back to the community, Tibirusya volunteered to improve children’s abilities for free.
According to Tibirusya, many children with special needs are not only gifted but also talented right from the inside.
A close-up of the paintbrush soaked in colour. During the painting and drawing sessions, each child is given a brush and a pencil to draw anything around their surroundings. The photo was taken at Kampala School for the physically handicapped in Mengo, Wakiso district on 8th December 2022. Photo by Juliet Kasirye
Tibirusya notes: “Everybody is born an artist, and children, especially those in wheelchairs can become better artists. Our art does not end in the classroom. Children paint bottles, then exhibit them to create awareness about their abilities.”
Some of the children with special needs, playing with painting brushes and bottles after painting bottles during the art lesson at Kampala School for the physically handicapped in Mengo, Wakiso district on 8th December 2022. Besides Covid-19, at this school, Tibirusya has been offering free painting lessons to special needs children for almost 15 years. Photo by Juliet Kasirye
Besides equipping children with skills, Tibirusya also created an art piece of reference that depicts the standard operating procedures Ugandans applied to curb the spread of Covid-19.
A close-up of a child with special needs painting a glass bottle during her free time in Mengo, Wakiso district on 8th December 2022. Photo by Juliet Kasirye
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