Only 2 days left to see the exhibition “Adbar”, paintings by Ethiopian artist Robel Temesgen in his first solo exhibition in UK. It comprises a series of new paintings and works on paper inspired by the longstanding Ethiopian belief of adbar and its associated rituals. Art is a great way for students of Amharic to learn more about the culture and messages of the language.
The Amharic term “adbar” refers to the embodiment of protective spirits within various elements of the natural landscape, such as lakes, mountains, rocks or trees. Trees possessing adbar, for instance, are strictly protected and believed to act as a link between people and the spirit world. They can serve as shelter,
places of worship and meeting points around which to discuss community matters. Temesgen grew up in Dessie, north-east Ethiopia, where adbar was commonly practised.
The series includes over 20 works depicting shimmering imaginary landscapes in Temesgen’s characteristic symbolic, lyrical style. The works vary greatly in scale, with the largest paintings measuring over 5 metres in length. Suspended from the ceiling and presented as floating rolls of paper partially covering the floor, their appearance recalls Chinese scroll paintings or Ethiopian healing scrolls.
Robel Temesgen was born in 1987 in Ethiopia, received an MFA from Tromsø Academy of Contemporary Art, University of Tromsø, Norway in 2015, and a BFA with high distinction in Fine Art (Painting) from Addis Ababa University in 2010. He currently lives and works in Addis Ababa.
More information can be found on the Tiwani Contemporary website
The exhibition is at the Tiwani Contemporary Gallery (16 Little Portland Street, London, W1W 8BP) and is open Tuesday – Friday 11:00am-6:00pm, Saturday 12:00am-5:00pm. Admission Free.
Shared from the Alertlist of The Anglo-Ethiopian Society, a great resource for people wishing to learn Amharic in London or follow Ethiopian events.
Category Archives: Art
Ethiopian Aloe paintings feature at London expo
Ethiopian flower paintings are to be part of the Royal Horticultural Society botanical art exhibition in London on 26-27 February. Artist Sarah Howard is exhibiting a set of drawings of Aloes from Ethiopia, endemic to the Horn of Africa, as part of this international-standard exhibition.
Sarah says: “I’ve long wanted to show what’s lovely from that part of the world, in the hope these pictures might inspire others to take an interest in Ethiopian flora – if not to paint them.” She encourages all Ethiopians and friends of Ethiopia to have a look. She has also taught botanical illustration classes.
“I spent two periods of a month each in the field driving huge distances, climbing mountains; enjoying the company of local farmers, priests and hotel staff where I set up makeshift studios. Almost everyone volunteered the information that these plants were used in some way for medicine, including in cancer and HIV/AIDS treatments. But few had any idea of the different species that could be found, and this also applied to expatriates.
“All Aloes are on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List of threatened species, two of mine are classified as endangered. Agencies are only beginning to find commercial uses for them which might help to preserve both the plant and the habitat in which they live. In the absence of many field guides, part of my hope also is to dispel ignorance about Ethiopia’s lovely, and often unique, flora.”
Entry to the exhibition costs £6 to non-members of the RHS for either Friday or Saturday (10am-5pm) and you can book tickets here on the RHS website
If you want to learn more about Sarah and her art, contact sarahhowardpainting [at] icloud [dot] com.
If yo have any events that you think students of Amharic in London and other supporters of our Amharic evening classes would be interested in, please let us know.
