Tibebe’s impressions & reflections
@
Zoma Contemporary Art Center
By
Selome Kifle
After his
recovery from a major heart surgery, Tibebe Terffa, one of the most
prominent artists in Ethiopia presents 65 works of art at Zoma
Contemporary Art Center in Jara Park. The exhibition entitled
“Impressions and Reflections 2002-2003” opened on Saturday December
20, 2003.
All 65 paintings represent Tibebe’s work in 2002 and 2003 prior to his
surgery and during his recovery. Tibebe uses vibrant and bright colors
(yellow, red...), representing hope, as he says. “All the paintings on
exhibit are from my sketch book which I used as therapy to calm myself
before and after my surgery.”
He describes his works as non-figurative distortions [portrait that
seem half human and half animal]. The distorted figures in his
painting give a mysterious and funny nature to his works. “I
concentrate on human portraits but when I distort them, I get some
character,” said Artist Tibebe. His work represents his feelings about
life. That is why the theme is ‘Reflections and Impressions’. All of
the drawings and paintings are untitled to leave the viewer the
freedom to make his own interpretation.
Capital learned that there is going to be a pottery smashing
performance with audience participation on the closing day of the
exhibition.
The Exhibition will remain open to art lover until Jan 11, 2003.
Sport-wear fashion show
@
Sheraton Addis
From the leading apparel manufacturer
A
sportswear fashion show is scheduled to be staged at the Sheraton Add
by a leading apparel manufacturer Spectrum Business Group on January
6, 2003, here in Addis. The sponsors are MOHA Soft Drinks, BGI
Ethiopia, NMC and MAMCO Paper Products.
“It is not for the first time that we are staging a fashion show in
Ethiopia, but this show is expected to be a little different from the
others because guests from international communities, and government
officials are expected to attend” said the owner and manager of the
company, Ato Elias Meshesha.
According to Elias, the company is contributing to the economy of the
country by manufacturing good quality uniforms for more than one
hundred big companies including Ethiopian Airlines, Midroc, BGI
Ethiopia and others. He calls the event historical since his company
is doing a real difference and he considers this show as unique
because the show will be traveling to Europe in May 2004.
The aim of this year’s fashion show is to display what the company
produces from materials that are available localy and to create
awareness in the industry, at the same time encouraging export. It
will cost approximately 180,000 birr involving thirteen professional
models. Asked by Capital who designs the clothing for the company Ato
Elias said his wife Biruktawit Kassahun is the creative mind behind
the designs and merchandizing. “She is the designer for the company;
she’s got good eyes and a creative mind.”
Elias Meshesha spent 27 years in the United States working in the
garment industry. In Los Angeles, he run a garment manufacturing
company with a turnover of more than 13 million Dollars.
Spectrum Business Group was established in 1998 in Addis Ababa, to
manufacture garments and other textile products for local and export
markets. The factory currently produces apparel for local customers
and sub-contracts some export items to Europe. In addition to sports
wears, Spectrum also produces accessories such as handbags, cotton
twills and denims.
Currently Spectrum is finalizing the process to export apparel to the
United States through the AGOA program and is getting good support
from the Ministry of Trade and Industry. Elias is confident that
Spectrum will be successful because he is very familiar with the
apparel market in the US and the quality requirements. “It is a
success bound venture,” he says.
 |
Tuesday
December 30, 2003
