Mezgebu Tesema, Ethiopia
Untitled, 2007.
About:
The extraordinary imagination of Mezgebu Tesema, a naturalistic expressionism painter, is highly celebrated within the art spheres of Ethiopia. His rich and overwhelming three-dimensional paintings are highly revered for the level of imagination they involve. For Mezgebu, who was born in North Shoa and educated in Ethiopia and Russia, painting is all about living childhood dreams. His close association with childhood memories is visible within the objects and organisation of his paintings. Philosophically, Mezgebu is identified with his lines about the expression of time in space and the relativity of freedom. There is no absolute freedom in the world, argues the painter whose acclaim reaches as far as United States and Russia, but only a freedom of choice. Freedom has to be evaluated in both its subjective and objective contents, argues Mezgebu.
Nigs, 2010.
“It is very difficult to accept your statement as it is. Frankly speaking, I think that the Ethiopian art has always been led by the artist’s preference and experiences. Realistic art was also practiced as much as abstract art or surrealist art, if there is surrealist actually. Generally speaking, the practice of art in the previous period was limited. If it is limited, every kind of practice is also limited.
During the Dergue regime, propaganda art was very popular. It had a form of realistic art. Honestly, 17 years is a long period of time.
Ubtitled, 2013.
When you, then, have the opportunity to practice different kinds of art, you do not know how to handle it, because in the previous time you were not free to do what you like, you know there was opportunity. Sometimes, making art is individual and sometimes it is the influence of your situation.
Stretched, 2013.
My realistic preference is influenced by my dream, which I had well before I become an artist. It is a matter of choice.” (quotes from interview with the artist by GETACHEW T. ALEMU in Addis Fortune)