GENET, Artist

I am an Ethiopian woman artist, born and raised Addis Ababa. I have grown up in a family dominated by women family members. This usually finds its way to be exhibited in my art works, where in women are the center of my art subjects. Depicting my ideas from a woman’s perceptive, I like creating and exploring new ways of transmitting my ideas. The continuous journey in producing art and the changes I see in it helps me see and find myself in my works.

I have produced many graphic works and paintings. Currently, I am much into collage and print making techniques. I make hand made papers from natural fibers, which is a great compliment in my collage and print making works. I also make glass beads.

In the past, I have participated in many group exhibitions. I have taken part in group shows held in Lamu Fort and French Cultural Institute, Nairobi, Kenya (2006) during the 5th Wasanii International Artists Workshop, where in I presented a wind chain installation work on an open space. Besides, I worked as an art teacher in an elementary school and also worked as an illustrator for the British Counsel women to women publication (2001-2004). I have participated in print making- etching and Glass bead making workshops in Addis Ababa and in Kitingela(2003, 2004)

Presently, I run a studio called ‘Meftle’, where I work and also provide short term trainings on etching and paper making. I find myself in the theme of spinning, ‘Meftle’ in Amharic, which is a major activity in women’s life in Ethiopia and is the early process in producing the traditional clothes. Beyond that I see ‘Meftle’ as a process that transforms things, which are weak in to something real , strong and beautiful. The hand made papers I produce from the thrown natural fibers have the same idea of process and transformation. Even though I do different works that revolve around different themes, in all my works I reflect the idea of the process, which is integrated with the techniques I use and the thoughts behind my works.