From: Biniam Tekle (biniamt@dehai.org)
Date: Wed Feb 24 2010 - 09:34:32 EST
http://www.statehornet.com/features/eritrean-artist-depicts-social-struggles-around-the-world-1.1171170
Eritrean
artist depicts social struggles around the world
By John Saelee
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*Published: *Tuesday, February 23, 2010
*Updated: *Tuesday, February 23, 2010
[image: Decolonize]
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Courtesy of Mahader Tesfai
The Multi-Cultural Center will hold Mahader Tesfai's exhibit, "Decolonize,"
until late March. For reservations to the workshop email Jessica Castellon
at jc994@saclink.csus.edu.
Artist Mahader Tesfai uses an organic approach to create art that empowers
people by revitalizing the past and painting them on non-traditional
surfaces.
In this time period, Tesfai said, he uses art to inform the public of
struggles many have faced outside of the United States including hardships
of Africans, displaced refugees due to push factors, people carrying dual
identities and post colonialism.
Tesfai’s interests in this subject matter are largely due to his Eritrean
roots. Tesfai was born in Sudan, East Africa, but his roots are in Eritrea,
located near the Red Sea and the horn of Africa.
Tesfai said Eritrea, like many small nations, have been traded as a colony
throughout its existence, but in 1952 Eritrea was annexed from Ethiopia.
Tesfai said struggles still occur on a more personal level throughout
Eritrea and these are the kinds of difficulties he hopes to portray in his
art.
His most recent exhibit, “Decolonize,” will open at 3 p.m. today and will be
held in Sacramento State’s Multi-Cultural Center.
Tesfai said the underlining concept of “Decolonize” is decolonization which,
by definition, is when people fight for change in their country to obtain
autonomy.
Tesfai said, in reference to the struggle closest to his heart, Ethiopia
heavily disagreed with Eritrea’s action to create autonomy for their
country.
“A lot of the national borders of Africa were artificially created based on
colonial divisions of the land,” he said. “There was blood shed on both
sides and many people fled at the time.”
Tesfai said he implements an aspect of his culture in honor of his heritage
by drawing faces of traditional Eritrean people.
“Despite the fact that art is a reflection of the artist, I don’t want to be
consumed in myself,” he said.
Jessica Castellon, social justice major and art intern for the
Multi-Cultural Center, said Tesfai will offer a free workshop on the opening
day of “Decolonize,” which will be led by Tesfai himself.
She said the workshop is open to faculty, staff, students and alumni but
reservations are recommended.
“People should expect an open invitation to explore their histories and an
opportunity for self-expression,” Castellon said.
Kalat Yared, president of the Habesha Student Union, said her organization
is sponsoring the “Decolonize” exhibit and is excited to see Tesfai, who is
of Habesha decent, bring his artwork and experience to campus.
“In the broadest sense, the word ‘Habesha’ may refer to anyone from Ethiopia
or Eritrea,” Yared said.
Tesfai’s artwork is powerful because she sees Habesha influences in it,
Yared said.
The art represents social issues, she said, his personal experience and also
a representation of Habesha.
“I think students will experience a different side of art - it’s unique,”
Yared said. “He has bright and dark colors in his art. The dark colors
represent the dark side of society and the bright colors give you hope.”
The first of Tesfai’s artwork Martinez encountered was painted on old
cutting boards and she was immediately intrigued by his style, she said.
“He’s very real about his impressionism,” Martinez said. “It’s not patterned
or simple - it’s complex and multi-dimensional - it’s alive and real and he
doesn’t stick with the same medium.”
Tesfai said he avoids pre-sketches.
His approach is to create art on objects easily accessible to him, a
process, he said, he feels the most comfortable with.
Yared said February is Black History Month and Tesfai’s art can help shine a
light on Africa in a universal way.
*Author can be reached at jsaelee@statehornet.com*
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