The project Covers for the World initiated by the Belgian artists Pierre Mertens, will be presented during the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Wednesday 3 December 2025 for the opening of SHARE The Global Centre for Accessible Care by his organization Child-Help International at Moshi, Tanzania.
Part of the project is the decolonizing reinterpretation of Picasso’s Demoiselles d’Avignon. Pierre Mertens made an earlier version for the Biennial of East Africa with artists based in Europe: names. But for the version in Moshi Pierre thought it was important to fully hand over to local Tanzanian artists. One of the these is David Valerian.
– Hi David, the same question as for everyone I interview for this project: can you tell us a bit about your background, how you started to work as an artist and what it means for you?
I am one of the young people who have gone through a difficult life, but I did not give up because of the life I went through. My colleagues and I formed an arts group twelve years ago, the Pamoja Boys and Girls to help our fellow young people who are going through difficult times to gain skills that we believe would help them in their lives. their daily needs. Young people who come out of difficult situations caused by our families that have been going through difficult times themselves, in order to survive. There are times when you have to steal to meet your needs, there are times when you have to do anything even if it is bad or good to be alive, including human rights violations to be able to see it to the next day. Our goal was to help young people and vulnerable children gain artistic skills in order to create products that they could sell and earn an income. There are those we have helped to change their lives and achieve their dreams and goals, and I believe there are still young people and children who need this kind of help. I will never give up on helping those in need of help and enlightenment to achieve their goals, believing in the loyalty we started with believing those that were in need.
– On your Instagram, you show paintings of African women and children, but also of someone who’s busy with machine weaving. You also point to the importance of family. Can you discuss this choice of subjects?
The reason I’m focusing on painting women and children is that I was one of those children that was raised by my mother while my father is away. I like to show the community the challenges which women and children are faced with through my artwork. There are many challenges in society which don’t seem to be addressed, or that are talked about.
– Some of the paintings are accompanied by inspirational sayings, for example of the writer C.S. Lewis – “There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind”. And from Ella Fitzgerald “Just don’t give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong.” I also like the anonymous “There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still.” Can you comment?
My own opinion is to keep the feeling alive, and I love what I’m doing with my artworks. There are times I feel depressed, but when I do some artwork, it makes me feel alive, and these sayings help me in expressing this.
– How do you plan to work with your part of the Demoiselles painting?
Since I enjoy working with the community, I also really like being part of the Demoiselles family and working closely with them to create something bigger.
– You will also help in painting the gate of the SHARE center. Do you have some ideas in mind for that?
My idea with the gate is to use some colors that are attractive to look at.
For more, view the Instagram account of David Valerian.
His work will be presented during the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Wednesday, 3 December 2025, for the opening of SHARE, The Global Center for Accessible Care by Child-Help International at Moshi, Tanzania.
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