Mouth artist proves disability is not inability

In this life, one may lack certain abilities but certainly not lack artistic sensibility.

Some are born physically challenged while others because of the cruelty of the world are become physically disabled.

Such is the case of Mary Wanja Mureithi.

56 years ago she was born a normal child but in her sixth year, she was diagnosed with Polio that later affected both her hands confining her to a wheelchair.

At the ADH hospital, she met a white man who was also affected by polio and was using his mouth to draw.

She narrates how she was attracted by the way Ian Bompas was doing his art using his mouth, and she decided to imitate him.

DETERMINED TO SUCCEED

Determined to do something worthwhile with herself, little Wanja pestered her parents to buy her plain papers and a pencil, something that shocked them considering her disability.

Wanja started to learn painting with her feet and mouth at that tender age with help from Mr Bompas.

“When I went home that day, I asked my parents to purchase for me plain papers and a pencil, something that really took them aback,” she said.

Nevertheless, after days of trial, she was able to do something appealing prompting her parents to take her to a local primary school where she only got up to Standard Three.

“In the beginning, the items I drew did not look anything like I intended. It took time, and gradually I became better and better. Sometimes I even stayed up all night just to practice," says Wanja.

Eventually, she says, she was later taken to Dagoreti Children’s Home where her friend Mr Bompas always came to visit.

It was while at the children’s home that Mr Bompas was mesmerised by Wanja’s work and vowed to help her by registering her to a Germany association that specialised in drawing from people with disabilities.

LOVES NATURE

The proud mother-of-two and a lover of nature says that she likes drawing pictures of all kinds but her interest mostly lies in women and children.

The German based organisation has since then been purchasing her drawings, thus enabling her to cater for her daily needs.

She has since then moved from Itundo village in Mathira where she was born and now lives in Kimathi estate in Nyeri Town.

She hopes that soon she will set up a curio shop in Karatina along the Nyeri-Karatina Highway so that she can showcase her products to both local and international tourists as well as encourage the vulnerable in the society.

Wanja, popularly known by many as ‘Mathe,’ says that nearly all body parts can help one earn a living only that one needs to realise their potential and be committed to it by doing a lot of practice.

However, she says the government should be involved in the lives of the disabled and not ignore or neglect them.

“The government has failed to set aside funds to assist people with disabilities. The central government only thought it wise to set aside funds for women and youths,” she laments.

PAINTING EXHIBITIONS

In other countries, Ms Wanja says, people of her kind are demonstrating their mastery of art through painting exhibitions sponsored by their governments.

“People like me with physical disabilities openly demonstrate their indulgence in economic activities like art. Recently, the Chongqing Municipality in Southwest China held such an event.

The show has proved that these artists may lack certain abilities, but are certainly not lacking in artistic sensibility,” she says.

Her works include exquisitely portrayed buildings of various ethnic groups in ink and wash and beautifully decorated animals in the wild.

Ms Wanja, the mouth artist, states that her skills have improved over the decades and her meticulous efforts have borne fruit. Her portraits are now sought after by dealers and art lovers from around the world.

"God might have closed my door. But my window was left open, allowing me to make a living and even feel happy and contented," she says adding that she will join other disabled artists and friends around the world for charity events.