WHEN you love and follow your dreams in such a unique way, you never lose sight of pursuing what you love.
Those were the sentiments expressed by young artist Rio De Roberto, a student of the E.R. Burrowes School of Art, who began his career in the Art and Textile Industry by learning with a needle and thread.

The young artist told the Pepperpot Magazine that it was at the E.R. Burrowes School of Art that he learned to sew on a sewing machine for the first time after spending years using needles and threads.
The Pepperpot Magazine caught up with young Roberto at an exhibition hosted by the E.R. Burrowes School of Art, which took place at the National Museum in Georgetown recently.

We were able to get a firsthand look at some great work done by this young artist.
During his interview, Roberto explained that he likes to think outside of the box and think of things that no one thinks about, thus using his imagination in a great way.

“I want to take things that the viewers understand in one way, maybe they find something ugly, and I want to challenge them to see the same thing in a beautiful way. In that way, you challenge what someone expects, but you are playing with their imagination and perception,” he said.

What goes on in an Artists’ mind?
“I find that a lot of my work isn’t grounded in realism,” the young artist continued. “I like to imagine wild things that you wouldn’t see in the everyday real world, alien things. I like to create pieces that you do not expect. I like to impress the viewer in ways that they don’t expect.”

This type of construction in his fabric and garment making lends itself to Roberto wowing the crowd with his compelling pieces of work that were on display at the exhibition.
One can only imagine the creativity that goes into his creations as he designs his pieces.

During his interview, Roberto was careful to mention that he intends to reach leaps and bounds where paintings and sewing are concerned.
He already has, as one of his plans, to have a solo art exhibition.

Roberto said that he believes that his work will have a far-reaching effect, both locally and internationally and that he has a message to send the world through the medium of art.
The young artist has plans to study and take his art education to the highest level.

“Guyana has a long way to go in terms of art, because our view of art is very limited and we see them at just people creating paintings of kokers and sunsets, but it is much more that. The artist has the ability to shape society. If you look at the influence that artists have had, like the independence of France and so forth,” Roberto told the Pepperpot Magazine.

According to him, the artist’s job is to speak to the issues in society that affect us instead of just glossing over it.
The perception should be that topical issues, for example, should be addressed through the art medium.

This world, according to Roberto, is imaginative and exciting, and one should expand his or her knowledge in the art arena.
Speaking about Guyanese artists, Roberto is of the view that no one can earnestly push you to develop yourself, the desire must emanate from you.

His inspiration is diverse and can come from a range of sources including celebrities, religion, personalities etc.
Some of the pieces he designed came from a variety of topical issues, including the Guyana Venezuela border controversy, pollution and climate change.