Towards African Mimesis: Regarding East Africa's Art Scene Now

The Semi/Abstract painters, Gebre Kristos and Skunder who represent this pictorial rumble were Addis School's finest praises. Skunder and el-Salahi, also Wosene and Rashid Diab, proponents of Modern/Contemporary African Art titillate a 'magic universe' in art. The latter group's practice goes with the former as their oeuvres appeal more to the non-figurative élan, a global art practice that has pledged an intellectual census in African Art wordbook. Afewerk Tekle, Tadesse Mesfin, Hassan Musa, Eshetu Tiruneh and Mezgebu Tessema seem to subdue the African mimesis in unforeseen before gravitas and honesty. Likewise, artists like Wangechi Mutu and Julie Mehretu bid Africa a global success as one of its' most striking artists. The subjects raised here, maybe are Ethiopian cinema, figure v/s ornament, 'African Mimesis', photography and new media art, but they are not limited to these, as they venture to the un/known, creative arts' vast field and other knowledge strata, i.e., literature to visual culture. Drama, performance, architecture and cinema too, transgress once a secluded zone- the African geo-locale and its identity narrative- now already a world manifest, a living expression!

Autorentext

Mulugeta Tafesse is an artist and independent researcher focusing on modern/contemporary African art. He completed his studies in Addis, Sofia and Antwerp in fine arts. He lectured at Addis Ababa University and was at HISK in Antwerp and Hasselt Visual Arts Academy as a guest lecturer. He obtained from La Laguna University his PhD. cum laude -2012.