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Nassim Gryech is a painter like no other. On social media, he exhibits his colorful and mostly joyful and full of hope, paintings, in an attempt to be an autonomous and independent artist. But before discovering his love for brushes and canvases, the 24-year-old painter challenged by Down Syndrome embarked on many other adventures.
As a member of the Association of Support and Assistance to People with Down's Syndrome (AMSAT), Nassim unleashed his energy, partaking in several activities and taking diverse classes. An active child who liked learning, Nassim took cooking, horse riding and swimming classes.
Out of three hobbies, the young man excelled at swimming. «Nassim loved swimming and participated in several competitions, one of them was in Ifrane, where he won a gold medal», his sister Ihsane told Yabiladi proudly.
After his victory, the Rabat-native went for the Special Olympics in Los Angeles and won a gold medal, while representing the Moroccan flag.
A passion for painting
Cooking was also an activity that fascinated the young man, who, unwilling to abandon his passion due to his condition, made an appearance on a TV show and worked at a restaurant for quite some time in Rabat. But this jack-of-all-trades decided to become master of one: painting.
«Nassim is passionate about colors», said his sister Ihsane, who is also his manager. «When he was a little boy he used to help my mother, who works as a broider, to organize threads and tidy them, it soothed him and he loved it», she recalled.
In 2011, he started painting classes and after a few attempts, his mentor at the time became very interested in his paintings. Encouraged by his entourage, Nassim picked up painting and took it seriously.
With the aforementioned association, he exhibited his works in several facilities, including the National Library in Rabat. He even managed to sell his paintings.
An independent artist
But Nassim’s ambitions and dream of becoming an independent artist did not stop there. Three years ago, the young man decided to become an autonomous artist. It was not an easy decision at the beginning, because it prevented him from getting the visibility he needed but it was a way for him to feel self-reliant.
«Being an independent artist with Down Syndrome is not easy and that is why Nassim couldn’t exhibit his works anymore like he used to do with the association», Ihsane explained.
«He felt a bit disappointed because of that and he started asking around whether my friends saw his paintings and whether they liked them. At that point I realized what painting meant to him», his sister recalled.
Ihsane then had the idea of creating an Instagram account for her creative little brother. It became a way for him to regain some visibility and share his art with the world. The idea changed Nassim’s life. He started getting inquiries, comments and messages from fans and potential clients who liked his art.
Because of his condition and his inability to read, his sister Ihsane manages his account and follows up with his publications.
«Although it is me who manages that account and writes the captions, everything is his idea. I show him everything and he tells me what to write and he loves the fact that people see and comment on his posts. It makes him really happy».
«This really gives hope to parents who have children like him and shows that people with Down Syndrome have dreams and can also reach for them», Ihsane stressed.
Nassim’s big dreams and ambitions have no limits. In addition to his paintings and social media accounts, he dreams of owning a farm away from the city.
