We just celebrated father's day, last Sunday and everywhere had signs or display, saluting fathers.
The social media was buzzing with all of us trying to outdo each other, with greetings and outpouring of love, to all the fathers we know out there.
It was indeed wonderful and fathers felt loved.
day lunch was packed with families and there they were, all the fathers.
Obviously enjoying all the attention and beaming with pride, for having been recognized, at last by their families that they are in charge.
THE HOMELESS MAN; INK ON NEWSPAPER; ILLUSTRATION; 130CM,120CM;
2015; MIABO ENYADIKE.
Then it struck me, right across the street sat a very disheveled man, with very tired bloodshot eyes, just staring at something that was not there. He could not have been staring at the cars that drove, certainly not the people who walked past and not even in the direction, of the restaurants as there were different eateries around.
THE HOMELESS MAN; INK ON NEWSPAPER; ILLUSTRATION; 130CM,120CM;
2015; MIABO ENYADIKE.
He just stared straight at something, maybe just wondering what the fuss the entire day was about. Then the questions came to mind, what went wrong with this dear man? How on earth did he get to this level? where is his family? does he have kids? if he does, where are they? the questions just went on and on.
THE HOMELESS MAN; INK ON NEWSPAPER; ILLUSTRATION; 130CM,120CM;
2015; MIABO ENYADIKE.
That man was simply the inspiration for this Ink painting, I did on newspaper. I have been in the presence of homeless people, and it is heart-wrenching when you sit down with them and have a chat without any prior judgment or superiority and they each, have a story to tell.
THE HOMELESS MAN; INK ON NEWSPAPER; ILLUSTRATION; 130CM,120CM;
2015; MIABO ENYADIKE.
Heartbreaking ones and some of the stories are so tall, you wonder how on earth they expect you to believe it. The simple truth, is let us all stop asking questions, about how they found themselves there.
Rather what can we as individuals, society, a nation, and the world collectively do about it.
Thank goodness, for the unrelenting journalist and media companies, out there that keep us informed of events around the world.
THE HOMELESS MAN; INK ON NEWSPAPER; ILLUSTRATION; 130CM,120CM;
2015; MIABO ENYADIKE.
Indirectly telling us, that now on this earth and the times that we live in been homeless is endemic.It is brought directly to our homes, neighborhood, countries, whether affluent or not.
Through no making of own, these horrible and rather devastating events, just creep in slowly and disrupt our lives abruptly.
THE HOMELESS MAN; INK ON NEWSPAPER; ILLUSTRATION; 130CM,120CM;
2015; MIABO ENYADIKE.
These events could be Foreclosure, Finance, senseless wars, drug addiction, that rips families apart and in a twinkle of an eye are made destitute, refugees, homeless.Nature just being nature, has its part to play as well.
THE HOMELESS MAN; INK ON NEWSPAPER; ILLUSTRATION; 130CM,120CM;
2015; MIABO ENYADIKE.
And one wonders, who is safe? no one is immune to it! Let's be grateful and thankful, but most of all stop asking questions and be our brother' keeper..........Enjoy.
Miabo Enyadike
artmiabo@gmail.com
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