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[Dalek]

Young refugee's portraits earn him nickname of ‘Little Picasso'

Farhad Nouri is known among migrants as Little Picasso.

The 10-year-old from Afghanistan, who is stranded in Serbia together with his parents and two younger brothers, has earned his nickname for two reasons: He knows how to draw and he loves Pablo Picasso.

”One day I will draw him, too," Farhad said of the famous Spanish artist, his big dark eyes shining with delight.

For now, Farhad's drawing pad includes portraits of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, actress Angelina Jolie, artist Salvador Dali and Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic.

His talent has earned Farhad the status of a local celebrity. He recently met U.S. actor Mandy Patinkin, who works with refugees with the International Rescue Committee and who has urged President Trump to be more welcoming to people displaced from war-torn countries.

”Merkel maybe can do something to open the border," Farhad said in English, which he has learned over the year since he fled war and poverty in his home country.

Farhad also likes to draw portraits of his family and friends, fairy-tale castles, nature or anything else that comes to mind. Painting, he said, has helped during the flight.

”I was in Turkey. I was in Greece," Farhad said of the trip. ”Here in the camp I like my painting. I like drawing my feelings and faces."

Farhad said his family would like to go to Switzerland or the United States. Memories of the family home in Afghanistan have been blurred, he said.

”I remember the door when we are going away. I remember that day," he said. ”When I think [hard] I can remember something."

Farhad 's temporary home in Serbia is a narrow and damp room with bunk beds, a wardrobe and a small table.

Farhad said he plays with other children in the refugee camp and attends Serbian language classes in the camp during the day. He usually draws at night, in his bed, while it is quiet outside.

”I teach myself. Sometimes I see from the videos, on YouTube, and I learn," he said.

the BBC has a video of him and his great artwork here:
https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews/videos/10154481531062217/

 

[RustyNails]

Thats incredibly talented. Hoping the kid gets more recognition.

 

[TimeEffect]

Look at his fashion sense. Bet he puts GAF to shame.

Not me though, Im pretty down with it.

 

[John Kowalski]

Hope he gets to have a proper education to help him improve his skills. Though to be fair, it's with a lot of worry that i would advise someone to follow a career in painting.

 

[wandering]

lol that Angela Merkel

 

[mnz]

Look at his fashion sense. Bet he puts GAF to shame.

Not me though, Im pretty down with it.

Them being dressed too well is a common complaint of anti-refugee groups in Europe. Not even kidding.

 

[HarryKS]

Not really a Picasso though.

 

[Carn82]

Them being dressed too well is a common complaint of anti-refugee groups in Europe. Not even kidding.

Probably the same people who complain about refugees having bachelor or master degrees and stealing their jerbs.

 

[Galactic Specter]

Not really a Picasso though.

He needs a more appropriate name that fits his art.

 

[mnz]

Probably the same people who complain about refugees having bachelor or master degrees and stealing their jerbs.

I don't know about that, but I have seen people say they can't be real refugees if they have smartphones.

 

[Zeus Molecules]

I don't know about that, but I have seen people say they can't be real refugees if they have smartphones.

Ask them what exactly does a refugee look like and be amazed as they start showing their assholeness as they try to answer.

Same if you can convince somebody to describe what poverty looks like

 

[airjoca]

Not really a Picasso though.

Why not, Picasso drew realistic subjects in his teens, stuff like this.

 

[televator]

As a former pencil artist, that kid is really good. Damn, son.

 

[xxracerxx]

Not really a Picasso though.

He did more than just his most famous things.

beaten.

 

[Madness]

I don't know about that, but I have seen people say they can't be real refugees if they have smartphones.

Well when you no longer want to stay in the first safe country you aren't really a refugee but an economic migrant. Moving in search of the best life possible. Nothing wrong with it, but this boy has gone from war torn Afghanistan to Turkey, to Greece, and now is stranded in Serbia with plans to either go to the US or Switzerland. Why? To be in the most developed country with the most liberal refugee policy and greatest economic prospects.

 

[DiipuSurotu]

Well they're certainly better than George W. Bush's portraits of Afghanistan veterans...

 

[Sou Da]

That kid has a handsome future ahead of him sans the roughest puberty transistion ever recorded.

 

[Easy_D]

Kid's got talent for sure, I can't even draw decent stickmen myself so I'm doubly impressed by what he can draw lmao

Them being dressed too well is a common complaint of anti-refugee groups in Europe. Not even kidding.

Yeah, it's fucking tiring to hear them drone on and on with bs like "Omg how dare refugees have smartphones and dress well!"

 

[tolkir]

Not really a Picasso though.

http://www.pablo-ruiz-picasso.net/period-first.php

And besides, he likes Picasso. Little Picasso is fine.

 

[Baroquemantic]

Wow, he's really talented. Those are some great drawings.

 

[bionic77]

I don't know about that, but I have seen people say they can't be real refugees if they have smartphones.

As long as they don't have fridges Fox News should be ok.

 

[HarryKS]

Why not, Picasso drew realistic subjects in his teens, stuff like this.

I did not know that. Interesting.

Not what he is known for though.

 

[HotHamBoy]

I did not know that. Interesting.

Not what he is known for though.

Picasso is known for a ton of different phases.

Most artists start with classical anatomy before exploring expression. You need a good foundation based in reality before you can abstract it.

 

[M3d10n]

Well when you no longer want to stay in the first safe country you aren't really a refugee but an economic migrant. Moving in search of the best life possible. Nothing wrong with it, but this boy has gone from war torn Afghanistan to Turkey, to Greece, and now is stranded in Serbia with plans to either go to the US or Switzerland. Why? To be in the most developed country with the most liberal refugee policy and greatest economic prospects.

And that is bad thing because?

If you're already leaving your country for fear of your life anyway, why is it wrong to try to get into a better country?

Conservatives keep saying people should be responsible for their own wellbeing and if they are unhappy with their low paying job they should just look for a better one elsewhere, even if they have to move to find it, but somehow that stops at international borders?

 

[gerg]

Picasso is known for a ton of different phases.

Most artists start with classical anatomy before exploring expression. You need a good foundation based in reality before you can abstract it.

Sure, but I would argue that Picasso is known more for deliberately and explicitly rejecting his classical training, and the subsequent movements he associated with as a result. Plus he was incredibly prodigious in his output.

As for the kid, he has a good eye! I hope he has the capacity to develop his skills further. I sure as hell wasn't drawing like that when I was 10!

 

[Fat4all]

He's much more talented than I was.

He's really good.

 

[Hypron]

If this kid keeps at it and carries on improving, I really want to see the artwork he'll create in 10 years time.

 

[HarryKS]

Picasso is known for a ton of different phases.

Most artists start with classical anatomy before exploring expression. You need a good foundation based in reality before you can abstract it.

In the doxa, he is not known for accurate portraiture.

 

[JimmyRustler]

In the doxa, he is not known for accurate portraiture.

Apparently drawing accurate portraits isn't even that hard for most artists. There is this one famous quote from Picasso:

"It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child."

Made me kinda look at art different in general. I always thought that accurate drawings are the most difficult ones.

 

[Sarcastic Poster]

The kid has talent and swag. Good on him.

 

[nampad]

Kid is ten...meanwhile I struggle with a simple stick man -_-

 

[DarkJediKnight]

I did not know that. Interesting.

Not what he is known for though.

That's the thing. I tried to tell my wife why Picasso is such a great artist. She sees his cubism stuff and thinks it's crap and easy.

I told her: "Honey, he was bored of drawing realistically in his teens. This is what happens when you're already a master artist."

 

[Exotoro]

Kid is ten...meanwhile I struggle with a simple stick man -_-

Practice makes good art