The works of Ethiopian artist Workneh Bezu Kassa will be displayed at Coya Dubai in Four Seasons Resort in Jumeirah on April 10, 2017.
A founding member of one of Ethiopia’s highly popular artist studios – Habesha Art Studio – Workneh practices in many different media including rug puppets, paintings in oil and watercolors, sculptures and graphic art.
The paintings in this exhibition include his Crystal Lady series – colorful figurative portraits made in jagged lines and forms as well as several others in this signature style.
He is represented by Create Hub Gallery, a Dubai gallery focusing on contemporary African art and his work will be on show in the Peruvian restaurant and members club. On opening night – April 10 – Workneh will be making a guest appearance at the Four Seasons Resort in Jumeirah.
According to the organizers, the event will be an opportunity to learn more about Ethiopian and African art in general as well as witness something new and refreshing in the foodie world. (The National)
Ethiopian films @ African Film Festival in NY
Ethiopian films including Lamb by Yared Zeleke and Price of Love by Hermon Hailay will be screened at the New York African Film Festival (AFF). The festival will be opened on May 3, 2017.
Over the last twenty-six years, AFF has managed to create diverse programs that aid and empower audiences and filmmakers, alike. This includes the annual New York African Film Festival, which is co-presented with Film Society of Lincoln Center and Brooklyn Academy of Music, as well as co-curated local, national and international film and media programs for a variety of cultural, academic and arts institutions.
Offering year-round programming, AFF showcases new and classic films to thousands through such programs as the African Film Festival National Traveling Series, which visits up to 13 cities across the United States. AFF have curated international programs in collaboration with partners in Australia, Burkina Faso, Brazil, Egypt, Jamaica, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone, among others.
AFF also runs community-based screenings with local cultural organizations to present films in a community setting.
Photography workshop @ Goethe
The first workshop of the platform Center for Photography in Ethiopia (CPE), which will be held at Goethe Institut here in Addis Ababa, has been designed to link photographers with experts that will provide support in developing concepts for photographic projects.
According to the organizers, the workshop has three parts including sessions on history and theory of photography in Africa and Ethiopia specifically, critical thinking approaches and research skills, and practice sessions with a focus on editing.
Photographers will also be given two weeks of independent working time and a one day session on April 18 to discuss the progress of work. In a final public session a selection of works will be presented and discussed.
The workshop will be led by Katrin Peters-Klaphake, a curator and researcher originally from Germany, and Mulugeta Ayene, a photojournalist for the Associated Press (AP), both based in Addis Ababa.
The workshop, which is by invitation only, has been organized in cooperation with CPE as part of Creative Futures.
Ethiopian colors @ Katara Theater in Doha
Ethiopian culture took center-stage at Katara’s Drama Theatre recently.
The Cultural Village Foundation and Katara collaborated with the Ethiopian embassy to host the two-day performances celebrating the rich cultural heritage of the country.
The Ethiopian cultural event showcased a wide array of events that were a true reflection of Ethiopia, including Ethiopian traditional musical performances and an exhibition on the African country’s Islamic heritage.
The exhibition, being held in Building 19, consists of contemporary art-works of internationally renowned Ethiopian artists. On display are photographs depicting UNESCO sites in Ethiopia, sites related to the country’s Islamic heritage, and other photographs that portray the day-to-day existence and rituals in a typical Ethiopian household.
Following the inauguration of the exhibition, traditionally dressed dancers and musicians took center-stage at Katara’s drama theatre, keeping the audience captivated with their colorful attire and rousing music in a warm ambiance full of Ethiopian hospitality presenting Ethiopia’s unique coffee and traditional bread.
The exhibition will remain open until April 15. (Gulf Times)