A new collaboration I did with my Friend Shachi srivastava entitled the poverty project. This time we are gonna be addressing the issue of Poverty; the world wide scourge that affects many. About 21,000 people die every day of hunger or hunger-related causes, according to the United Nations. This is one person every four seconds, Sadly, it is children who die most often.
Yet there is plenty of food in the world for everyone. The problem is that hungry people are trapped in severe poverty. They lack the money to buy enough food to nourish themselves. Being constantly malnourished, they become weaker and often sick. This makes them increasingly less able to work, which then makes them even poorer and hungrier. This downward spiral often continues until death for them and their families. So in closing we hope you take a look at our artistic interpretations & really feel the depth of what we are trying to do with our art.
 

This is the 1st art piece of a series of three. I sent shachi a reference photo & this is what she came up with. she handled the painting & drawing aspect while i created the hands, the negative space mural with some final coloring edits to tie in total unison of creation. May this poem assist you with the proper viewing of our art piece. It's called the curse of Poverty by Ramesh Rai.

Poverty
Poverty is a curse for human society
Poverty prevails there where the injustice is
Poverty exclaims there where the illiteracy is
Poverty is purely man made
So it has to be eradicated from its root
The society afflicted with poverty
Is reprehension of entire human society
Corruption is the source of poverty
Only a fearless society can be said
Free from all poverty
Where the people are dumb and discounted
Poverty exists there
Poverty shows, how many immature person
Rule the country
Poverty is the reason for all philosophical end.
ramesh rai
 

Here is the finale of our Poverty project. This art piece was art directed by my pal Shachi Srivastava & I did the collage mixed with some textural painting. To close of our poverty project I've attached a poem by Sonali Shah entitled Peace or Poverty

Their skin soaks up the heat
Leaving it as black as the midnight sky,
Their eyes wide, white, pleading
Begging to the passersby.
They litter the street
Half naked bodies,
Red and colouring their feet
Searching for a entrance
A door out of the circle of poverty.

Poverty means destruction
Destruction means fear
Behind locked doors we sit in early evening
Too scared to see a black face
Terrified of black feet crossing the threshold.
But why be fearful of your slaves,
Those you whip and beat
Treating like the dirt from the doormat
Where you wipe your feet.

Role diversity causes poverty
Poverty destroys peace
But peace minus poverty
Means Equality should increase.