Roza Mojsovska: The only artist in North Macedonia who paints with her mouth
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Renowned artist and poetess Roza Mojsovska, 54, creates artwork with a brush in her mouth. She is an active member of the cultural scene in Strumica, a major city in the eastern region of North Macedonia.
Roza started painting when she was 7 years old. It was International Women’s Day, and she had just had surgery on her hands. Already, she knew she might never be able hold a brush in her hands. So she used her mouth instead.
“All the children in the hospital were making greeting cards, and I wanted to try and draw something,” Roza says. “And then with my persistence, my fight, I took a crayon in my mouth and drew a flower. My instructors were overwhelmed with my drawing, and I discovered my talent for painting.”
When she was 9, Roza arrived at the Banja Bansko Public Institution near Strumica, North Macedonia. It is the country’s only residential institution for children with physical disabilities. After she finished school there, Roza remained at the institution for more than four decades, painting and drawing.
Her works adorn the corridors and numerous rooms of the institution. Each testifies to her fighting spirit and ability to overcome constraints, not just to paint, but even to buy supplies, given that there was no specialized transport to accommodate her needs.
Finding inspiration in faith
Roza is also a successful poet, having published several books of poetry. She finds inspiration for writing, as in painting, in her faith.
“I want to encourage people with disabilities to understand that we are also entitled to an active life. God has created us as we are. In His eyes, we are all beautiful,” Roza smiles.
I want to encourage people with disabilities to understand that we are also entitled to an active life.”
— Roza Mojsovska
She admits that her best paintings come when she is nervous because then energy builds up in her and spills onto the canvas.
“The more I paint, the more I am satisfied, and I want to show to many people that they don’t need to feel sad or disappointed because every human being has a talent,” Roza says. “And it is God’s gift. Maybe I will not become popular, but still, I am satisfied because I can encourage people, showing them that I can work, although I do not have the use of my hands and feet.”
Shame no more
Roza had her first exhibition at the age of 18 when she visited the Pope and the Vatican with a group of artists from the former Yugoslavia. She admits she feared that people would find out that she was painting in a different way.
“I was ashamed because I thought that people would laugh at me because I paint with my mouth,” Roza recalls. “I thought I was the only one of my kind, but then I read a book about a girl who injured her spine in a diving accident and became disabled. It was very pleasing to see that she painted with her mouth too. Then I started fighting and proving to people that it is also a life in some way.”
She no longer feels hesitation or concern. Through her membership in the Association of Mouth and Foot Painting Artists of the World, Roza has been able to perfect her painting techniques with a professor, and move towards her dream of becoming a professional painter.
Since the first public showings of her drawings and paintings in 1996, she has been present in almost all of the Association’s art colonies and exhibitions, and visited many countries. Her desire is to one day exhibit her works in independent shows, both at home and abroad.
“Nobody knows what awaits him or her in life. I want to show people and prove that we – people with disabilities – can work and create. Even though we may not have legs or arms, we do have a mind. The sun is shining on us too,” says Roza.
Even though we may not have legs or arms, we do have a mind. The sun is shining on us too.”
Launching an independent life
Today Roza is a member of a group resettled from the Banja Bansko Institution in apartments designed for people with disabilities to live independently. This step was possible through a joint intervention of UN Women, UNDP, UNFPA and UNICEF in North Macedonia.
One of the rooms of Roza’s new home is, naturally, a painting studio. “If someone had told me a year ago that I would move in here, I would not have believed it,” she laughs. “This is a great miracle for me. Now I have a new life, new acquaintances and I feel wonderful, filled with positive energy.”
She has not brought all her paintings from the Institution, and promises, “I will leave some of them there in remembrance of the long time I spent there.”
In Strumica, people know Roza not only for her mouth painting and poetry but above all for her cheerful spirit, and wide, friendly smile. “I help people with my paintings, I console them with my poetry and tell them that all women should fight, that they have equal rights.”
I help people with my paintings, I console them with my poetry and tell them that all women should fight, that they have equal rights.”
— Roza Mojsovska
Overcoming all the barriers she has faced has never been easy. But Roza says with conviction. “You have to fight in life to achieve something. If you do not, you will not achieve what I have achieved.”
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