Aida Buzuayehu - International Community School of Addis Ababa

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legitimize the solomonic dynasty, and ordinary women as housewives and helpmates of men, who all hold a significant place in Ethiopian art”. In summary, most of the art work during this era had hidden messages that reveled daily life as well as the daily activities and pursuit of the average Ethiopian Christian woman. All of these women weren’t given the opportunity to get proper art training due to various unfortunate circumstances. Instead they were to stay home and fulfill household tasks while receiving theological education simultaneously. Its crucial however to note that these women although not given the same opportunities as men, in terms of a higher education, were active advocates of other creative traditions typically produced by women (Teklemichael, 4). Things like pottery, basket making, textile weaving and embroidery. Sadly the people that produce these fabulous items are very rarely considered ‘artists’ (Teklemichael, 4). The five contemporary artists I have chosen to examine go by the names of Woyzero Lemlem Gebremeskal, Emahoy Wolate-Yohannes Sebehatu, Yordanos Berhanemeskal, Elizabeth Habte-Wolde and Merikokeb Berhanu. Woyzero Lemlems’ love for art like most artists began at a young age. “She began painting by using charcoal to draw pictures of animals and people on the mud walls of her house” (Teklemichael, 5). It was a priest passing by her home that discovered her talent and advised her to travel from her village to the nearest city to pursue her dreams of becoming an artist. Although Woyzero Zelalem lacked former art training as well as a 19
proper mentor, she didn’t let her gender or lack of proper materials stand in her way. It’s for these reasons that I believe she’s similar to Desta Hagos. The second artist, Emahoy Wolate-Yohannes Sebehatu fell in love with fine art as an adolescent who decided to become a nun, hence the prefix in her name ‘Emahoy’ which means nun in Amharic. She acquired her artistic skills while receiving theological education in one of the Churches located on Lake Tana. Similar to Desta Hagos and Woyzero Lemlem Gebremeskal, Emahoy grew up in a town without any painters or mentors which made it more difficult to pursue an art career with the additional burden of being female. However, Emahoy Wolate-Yohannes stood firm in her belief that painting is a gift from God and He gives this gift to both men and women (Teklemichael, 5). Desta Hagos posing next to her artworks Yordnos Berhanemeskal, the third artist I’ve chosen to introduce was born into an art family, unlike the other artists. Her father was the best- known artist of her time as she grew up surrounded by traditional and religious art, which has positively affected her. Her biggest inspiration, similar to Desta Hagos, was her father as she would sit behind him while he was painting and imitate the art he produced when he wasn’t home (Teklemicheal, 5). Yordanos is one of very few women that has received proper art training and has graduated from the School of Fine Arts with a 20
Page 1 and 2: Aida Buzuayehu 000212009 EXTENDED E
Page 3 and 4: HISTORICAL BACKGROUND The Derg was
Page 5 and 6: INTRODUCING THE ARTIST Desta Hagos
Page 7 and 8: Desta Hagos at CLU, 1971 Aside from
Page 9 and 10: An oppressive regime was not conduc
Page 11 and 12: Henceforth, Desta Hagos is a remark
Page 13 and 14: “Exile” is another piece by Des
Page 15 and 16: In Conspiracy by Desta Hagos, the e
Page 17 and 18: This piece is a telltale in the sen
Page 19: OTHER FEMALE ARTISTS In this compar
Page 23 and 24: CONCLUSION In conclusion Desta Hago
Page 25: ICONOGRAPHY “Abeba”, Desta Hago

Aida Buzuayehu - International Community School of Addis Ababa

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