BERHANU, Artist

I am 27 years old Ethiopian Artist, Who is one of the young and up coming artists that are expected to be a difference making group in the art society. Recently I am teaching art at Addis Ababa University, School of fine Arts and Design in the department of Graphic arts.

I came from educated family, who could be able to understand me since my early child hood. I have one kid brother, who is studying on his first degree and one elder sister, an accountant by profession. After my graduation, I started living alone with my creative art works.

I have special interests of discussing about every issue, especially art with Ethiopian friends and different nations, helping people in any ways I can, spending time out of the city, having some fun with friends, listening music and watching movies.

As an artist, I might be inspired with any part of this probable world and things in it. On this stage of my experiment, it is better for me to say that I am influenced by my own perception and understanding things. Because I am not a kind of artist who strictly fallows the same way on the style he works and the material or media he uses. I do not put any restriction and limitation on my creative art works. Furthermore, I involved myself in art because it makes me feel immortal when I do it, noting else and this feeling lets me able to practice it with full of freedom.

I am an artist who is living his own happy life with everything around him. As an artist I can feel and know that the concept and dialogue of art has been changing time to time, as it has been measured by the creativeness of the artists in different periods. So, there is nothing that makes me afraid of raising and working with my philosophical ideas with different medias and presentations as well.

I have a vision of being a good artist, who can be able to raise ideas in new ways and convince people, specially the art society about my idea on the way I want it to. And displaying my art works with out putting a price on it. Oh… I miss that day, when my vision comes to existence.

Berhanu Ashagrie Deribew

Tel - 251-11-1232833

Mob- 251-91- 166 41 73

P. O. Box - 150043

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

E-mail- brisha2@yahoo.com

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.

MIKIYAS, Icon Painter

You know my Art work has been transferred from generation to generation. My father is a very know painter's of religious, traditional as well as modern paintings. My dad had been learnt painting from his clothe relative family. And also my dad learnt painting to me and to the rest of my brothers and sisters at our home (at our home's college).
I started painting when I was a child; I can say I grew with painting quarter of my life.
So paintings form me and for my father is a livelihood profession.
I do painting for the sake of satisfaction,( peace of mind), to stimulate my body and as entertain place.
Please add this golden idea to my profile "Les we Knock at the door it shall be open on to us"
See you soon.
Love
Mikiyas.

GARED, Icon Painter

I am happy my introduction with you .you know me .I am GARED GIDEY age 29 birth place Axum Ethiopia .I am married .I have got one son &a daughter .I was born from a poor farmer who was living in rural area .I grow with three sisters &a brother .now they lead their own life them selves .but earlier as we were orphan life was hook for us
My hobby of art began since my child hood while, I was churches student I draw different cultural items & modern I now send for you the following curbs paints of my own works
1, craft on a wood describe different curbs of my own
2, Inside the curb it has different paints express religious history
3, modern art that express natural phenomenon living style of rural
4, picture that express rural practices indifferent works
5,st. YAREDS picture who was church hymn and founder of modern rhythms.
6, chain that express different designs
Your sincerely GARED GIDEY
Axum Ethiopia
Thank you again

LIELTI, Icon Painter

firstly I would like to introduce my self I m Lielti Leake my work is I M traditional Painting and traditional medalist (cultural). How I start painting is because of my father was painter and then I interested by my father painting and then I start. even painting helps explain our feeling. Why I work is the Ethiopian traditional and cultural things to introduce and to explain my feeling.
The work shop in Addis Ababa was very pleasant. It was very interesting tome .I learned many things in the work shop .in my suggestion I wish the course or your workshop is continue.
Art is according to my understanding is speaking and much
Without in Axum in initiative to create to new things example workshop like in Addis Ababa the Abessinia project management helped me by different way. In English Course I develop more in speaking and writing because our teacher is excellent Graduated in English.
I’m sending you my painting it is about Ethiopia traditional culture.

best wishes to abissinia project management
Sincerely you're Lielti Leake

The 18 Ethiopian Artists

Abessinia Project brings together 18 Ethiopian artists, an Austrian designers, Lidwina Dox, and a manufacturer based in Thailand, led by Ami Zarchi. We have mentioned briefly about Lidwina and Ami, and now we'd like to introduce you with the artists we work with. Some of them are traditional painters, some are manuscript writers, icon painters, and artists. They are from Addis Ababa, Axum, Gondar and Lalibela. Here are their portraits.

Ethiopia

Many has been said about the Ethiopian artworks and artists. But little has about the background of the country. Here is a brief summary of its history and culture.

Ethiopia is one of the oldest nations in the world and the second most populous nation is Africa. IT has yielded some of the oldest traces of humanity, making it an important area in the process of human evolution. The Ge'ez name ʾĪtyōṗṗyā, and its English cognate Ethiopia, is thought by some to be derived from the Greek word Αἰθιοπία Aithiopia, from Αἰθίοψ Aithiops ‘an Ethiopian’, which means "of burnt (αιθ-) visage (ὄψ)". However, this etymology is disputed, since the Book of Aksum, a Ge'ez chronicle first composed in the 15th century, states that the name is derived from "Ityopp'is", a son (unmentioned in the Bible) of Cush, son of Ham who according to legend founded the city of Axum. It is not certain how old the name Ethiopia is, but its earliest attested use in the region was as a Christianized name for the Kingdom of Aksum in the 4th century, in stone inscriptions of King Ezana.In English, Ethiopia was also historically known as Abyssinia, derived from the Arabic form of the Ethiosemitic name "ḤBŚT," modern Habesha.

The territory of Ethiopia is one of the oldest centers of human habitations. Some believe that Ethiopia is the land of genesis. Landlocked in the horn of Africa, Ethiopia covers a land twice the size of France, Kenya or Texas & four and half times the size of Great Britain and Italy. It shares frontiers with Eritrea to the north, Djibouti to the northeast, Somalia to the east, Kenya to the south, and The Sudan to the west and northwest.

Ethiopian’s history and culture are rich, unique and diverse, and is the most ancient empire in the world, which goes back thousands of years, came to an end on the 12th of September 1974. The country's rich history is woven with legends of King Solomon and Queen of Sheba; the Ark of the Covenant that is said to rest in Axum ; the great Axumite kingdom and the birth of Christianity; the rise of Islam; and the story of King Lalibela.

With over 80 different peoples, the cultures of its communities are prominent in Ethiopia's lifestyle. With traditions going back to the days of Axum, and a strong religious setting, celebrations and festivals play an important part in their daily lives. The greatest festival is Timket (Epiphany), where tourists are welcome to celebrate with the locals. But other festivals such as Enkutatash (the Ethiopian New Year, in September after the rains), Maskal, Gena (Christmas), Id and Easter are all glorious celebrations. In every region you will discover local festivals and ceremonies where you will be welcomed as an honored guest. Remember, when checking any dates, that Ethiopia still retains the Julian calendar, having thirteen months. The traditional calendar remains almost eight years behind the Gregorian Calendar of the West.

Source: Wikipedia

The English Course for the Ethiopian Artists

By Fanny Awaliana

When Lidwina Dox was delivering the Design Workshop in Addis Ababa in Summer 2006, she saw the unmet need of facilitating an English course for some of the artists from Axum and Gondar. The idea was immediately supported by Ami Zarchi, the sponsor of the workshop. Since May 2007, a tailored English course has been organized in Axum, and since June 2006, one has been organized in Gondar. Each course will last for six months. The following are some feedbacks we've received by email from the Ethiopian artists participating in the course.

From MIKIAS (painter, Axum city):

Dearest Abessinia Management, the age of learning is never end. So those altogether are progressing very drastically. I am dead sure that will see real change from us. All of us have been entertaining/funning with English language. It is relax and life it self. Knowledge is power and also English is power. It’s clear this planet is too dark with out English. So we have to know one international language... Let me tell you our weekly program. We have question and answer, telling history, debating class, vocabulary, Conversation, English grammar, music and video class.

From AYESHESHEM (painter, Gondar city):

Dear Abessinia Management, I am very happy to hear sponsorship for the language study. Everybody is delighted too. You are trying to support us in every possible way & that indeed is a quality of those who are kind to help others. I really say once again thank you for that.... When I was preparing to begin the English language course, I have had different opportunities of governmental & NGO’s jobs. But I have decided to continue my course on the English language because I have realized the importance of the course to improve my future life. Although we need more time to lead our daily life, we are struggling to be a good speaker of the language. So we are trying our best. But it not a task as easy as you thought.