Nebyou Tesfaye’s Harar Impression
By Selome Kifle

An art exhibition entitled ‘’ Harar Impression’’ by young Ethiopian painter, Nebyou Tesfaye was displayed for three consecutive days starting from Monday, May 11, at the Hilton Hotel.

Nebyou presented 28 oil paintings on canvas that reveal the day –to-day activities of the Harari people. On his paintings, crowded market places and tall women with long dresses are presented through hot colors (yellowish colors) that the painter thought it could be perfect for his portrayal.

Nebyou told Capital that on this exhibition he was trying to show what impressed him most about Harar. He also added that in Harar people wear different colors of cloths that people in Addis would nor dare to ware and he thinks these activities inspired him a lot to capture it all on canvas.

One of his paintings depicts women wearing colorful dresses carrying basket on their head, and train and cactus tree can be seen. He says that on all of his paintings crowded market and women with colorful clothes are there because that’s what he impressed him most and he believes describes best the region.

Nebyou Tesfaye categorizes his techniques as impressionist. And he said this type of techniques uses exaggeration to incorporate his imaginary color on his canvas.
This exhibition is the painter’s solo exhibition, but Nebyou participated in a number of group exhibitions including at the Alliance Gallery, Greek Club and Makush Gallery. He graduated from the Addis Ababa Fine Art & Design in 2001 from the department of Painting.

Capital news paper Addis Ababa

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – Like the famous French poet Rimbaud and Tadesse Mesfin, Winner of the 1998 Ethiopian Fine Arts and Mass Media prize for painting, Nebiyu Tesfaye was touched by Harar, a city located 523 kms from Addis Ababa. In the one day exhibition held on Monday 2004 at the Addis Ababa Hilton Hotel, Tesfaye depicting the daily activates of the city dwellers.

Nebyou Tesfaye, a 2001 graduate from the Addis Ababa University School of Fine art and Design in painting, exhibited 33 impressionistic works. Several of the works focused on women in the Harar market environment.

Though the exhibition lasted for one day, ten pieces were already sold. Some viewers suggested that he extend the exhibition for a few more days. But Tesfaye nodded and replied that the renting cost to show art works were very expensive at the Hilton, ‘’ they charge 1,500 birr for one day and that is excluding the price of refreshments.’’ Let’s not forget that he has exhibited his works in numerous galleries in Addis Ababa and has also sent some of his works to USA via Makush Art Gallery. Others are also yet to come.

Tesfaye told timeout that his interests and inspirations arose from several visits to Harar. He also added that the amazing hued clothing of the women of Harar had a major contribution towards his inclination of representing Harar in an exhibition. ‘’You can’t find such colorful attractions in other cities of the region, ‘’ Said Tesfaye comparing Harar to neighboring Dire Dawa

Time out news paper Addis Ababa Ethiopia