Artist: Tesfaye Urgessa - 4me4you
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4me4you features - ‘a sombre scene beneath the sky’.

Artist: Tesfaye Urgessa
ABOUT ME

Embarking on an enriching journey, 4me4you recently indulged in the vibrant artistry showcased at SAATCHI YATES Gallery, where they immersed themselves in the captivating works of artist Tesfaye Urgessa.

MY PROCESS

"I want my figures to have almost an emotional vulnerability... I want to keep them confident but at the same time fragile. They have been through something but made it. You might see a scar, but it’s not a mark of defeat," Urgessa explains.

'a sombre scene beneath the sky'.

  • Following his impactful presentation at the inaugural Ethiopian Pavilion at La Biennale di Venezia, Saatchi Yates showcased 14 paintings by Tesfaye Urgessa, crafted across Addis Ababa, Nürtingen, and Padua. These works, created over the past two years, exemplify the evolution of Urgessa’s distinctive style, profoundly influenced by his personal encounters with prejudice.

  • Upon returning to his hometown of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Urgessa’s art has increasingly engaged with the socio-political issues of race, migration, war, and displacement, amidst the country’s political upheaval. 

  • His canvases are rich with symbolic motifs such as aircraft, guns, and open scripture, serving as visual prompts for critical discussions about the dissemination of truth and violence.

  • Urgessa’s signature style is marked by contorted figures with overlapping limbs and withering bodies, exploring themes of family and the domestic sphere. His subjects, embodying both strength and vulnerability, proudly display their scars as symbols of resilience. The transparency of their bodies reveals their fragility, laid bare to the viewer.

  • Focusing on portraiture and figurative painting, Urgessa’s works reflect his classical education and early inspiration from traditional Ethiopian iconography. His art addresses contemporary issues surrounding race, identity politics, and the psychological tensions within domestic settings.

  • By confronting these themes, Urgessa’s paintings provoke thoughtful engagement and reflection. “I want my figures to have almost an emotional vulnerability… I want to keep them confident but at the same time fragile. They have been through something but made it. You might see a scar, but it’s not a mark of defeat,” Urgessa reiterates.

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Artist: Tesfaye Urgessa

GALLERY: SAATCHI YATES

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