Peter Matey
Agony of the Poor
My name is Peter Matey and, in my paintings, I am interested in the hardship or the suffering of people in Ghana especially the vulnerable ones such as women and children are the most affected ones. I use oil paint for my work because it gives me more freedom to express myself with brush strokes. I paint very loose but with thick paints and the brush strokes in different directions showing emotions such as pain and anger hopelessness.
Artist/Thesis Statement
My Painting I am interested in the hardship or the suffering of people in Ghana especially the vulnerable ones such as women and children are the most affected ones. I chose this subject because I want people to know how majority of people in Ghana are suffering. Humanity is being your brother’s keeper and little things done for them can save lives. You can see a single woman with many children but has no proper shelter and money to provide food for the children. All the hard labor will be done by these people but in the end, there will be little or no money to feed their family.
Anytime I see people like that, I feel sad, and I try my best to support them with the little I have at least to save and bring a little joy to their life, and I also believe anytime I support them lives are being saved and that alone brings joy to me.
I have three different paintings which talk about the same topic. The paintings have emotions, and they are heart breaking. Children are stranded with no food and no education, parents working hard but having no money and food to feed their family.
I used oil paint for my work because it gives me more freedom to express myself with the brush strokes. I painted very loose but with thick paints and the brush strokes in different directions showing emotions such as pain and anger hopelessness.
