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Recent works of Yohannes Tesfaye.

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About:

Yohannes Tesfaye was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in 1978. He studied art for two years at the Alle School of Fine Arts and Design at Addis Ababa University and received certificate upon completion. Immediately after, he joined the painting department and studied painting for four years then received Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the same university. After graduation, he traveled to Moscow for a yearlong art training at Surikov Art Institute. Upon returning from Russia, he became a full time studio artist. His work experience is diverse from creating illustrations for children’s books at Macmillan to restoration of wall frescoes for Addis Ababa Holy Trinity Cathedral.

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He regularly participated in several group shows in Ethiopia and abroad until he left the country for the United States. He also was held solo exhibitions in Ethiopia and Europe including at Asni Gallery of Contemporary Ethiopian Art and Wit Gallery at Amsterdam. Since he came to the US in 2005, Yohannes has been actively participated in several group shows including African American Museum at Los Angeles.

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Yohannes Tesfaye intensely focuses on two and three-dimensional paintings. His energized mixed media works and techniques are presented in acrylic, oil on canvas, wood, fiberglass and any other materials as his vision implores. One is struck immediately by the exuberance and implied physicality of Yohannes Tesfaye’s paintings. There are no self-imposed limitations, no endless variations on successful themes. He is exploring and doing so with a great deal of confidence and joy.

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Artist Statement

My artwork is the reflective of endless process. The idea is like a wind that blow through me. It is imaginative but at the same time reality. I use different materials to convey the message, the message of reaching into peaceful and complete place. Different materials that I use pay endless sacrifice to create the artworks. My artwork reflects profound feeling generated from gradual process. I frequently experiment with ordinary materials to achieve extraordinary result. The mix of wood, wire, plexiglass, oil, acrylic and marker would give a great harmony for the entire composition.

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All of my artworks have depth and dimensions in different levels. They have physical presence on the space they occupied. The organic lines that exist between reality and imagination are deep and untouchable. Visible layered materials show the sacrifice that has paid to reflect unlimited feeling. It is evident that the sacrifice all the materials have paid is an important element in the overall process to reach the place that gives complete satisfaction. It is like a struggle to gain strength, it is like a quest to achieve wisdom, it is like a journey to get to peaceful place. There is always movement that is not defined with time frame; in fact, it can be defined through our experience engaging the artwork. (text website artist)