Arts and Entertainment
Valentine’s Day 2023: Paint it with love and say it with a rose
It’s that time of the year again — Valentine’s Day – where the aroma of roses fill the air and the busy markets welcome shoppers with flowers and varieties of gift items.
Over the years, gifting styles have changed but the tradition of giving roses remains afresh.
Eastern Mirror caught up with Imkong Imchen, who was selling his own art work and roses at the roadside near Clock Tower in Dimapur.
The 25-year -old had put up a stall with one of his friends as an ‘experience’ and to earn some money from their hard work.
He is a photographer by profession; and has some interesting hobbies like painting and singing.
Imchen confessed that his art works have earned him a few lakhs.
From his Valentine’s Day stall, nine pictures worth INR 550 each were sold out quickly, after which he started doing on-sport art work.
Imchen said, ‘Painting and music is a hobby for me , beside photography is a profession I’m looking forward to holding up, not the best but I’ve come a long way and I have faith in God that He will guide me and lead me no matter what profession I take up.’
During an interview in Eastern Mirror’s column ‘Rhythm of Love,’ Imchen had narrated his breakthrough in the field of art.
Read interview: Rhythm of Love: In conversation with Imkong Imchen
“Way back in 2012, my dad passed away. It was such an unexpected and unfortunate event. It came to me as a great shock. It left me broken inside. Being the son, everyone expected me to be strong. And I knew I needed to be strong for my mom and sister. I acted on it, but deep down I was hurting.”
“At such times (in 2014), I started to portray my feelings in pictures. My pain and my untold sadness in lyrics, not with the intention to let people understand my pain, but because it made me feel good. It was an outlet. A way for me to breathe again. Music and painting became the soul of my heart, it spoke more when words failed to express,” he had said.
When asked about his work front, Imchen said he has so far covered around 200 weddings.
Though he has been earning handsomely, Imchen said he invests in upgrading his tools.
‘I’m grateful and privileged to say that I look after my sister’s expenses for her studies,’ he said.
The young lad said he always wanted to do charity work for which he has visited orphanages and destitute homes.
‘Since last year I’ve come up with a charity package for wedding photography and I believe it was helpful for the needy ones,’ he added. (Dimapur, EMN)
