“Oblivious to what is happening in the world around us, most of us wouldn’t be able to comprehend what it is like to be living in a war-torn country. Perhaps when it gets closer to home it gets to sink in but the world has been experiencing wars ever so often,” the exhibition description reads.

Dereje Shiferaw is an upcoming artist in Ethiopia where he lives. He is a stay-at-home-dad and wants to see a better future for the children of Ethiopia.

“The artist cannot stand that children, who are the nexus of humanity and should be kept safe, are instead having to pass through with memories of the brutal war and the trauma of violence, and being used to obliterate peace.”

The signature of this Avante-Garde artist lies in how he paints his figures: he accentuates the melanated figures with illustrious lips, stylised facial features and huge contorted hands.

He gets his inspiration from everywhere but mostly from his infant son’s sound and movement against the soundscape of jazz music softly playing in his studio to the hidden monastery cave across from his home studio.

He becomes physically and emotionally invested in the subject’s story where his aim is to capture the spirit, essence and heritage of his subject whilst also using this as an opportunity for the world to look into the lives and struggles of people whose stories are yet to be told.

With this week being all dedicated to refugees, we think this is something that deserves all the attention. 

The exhibition is open daily to the public from 10am to 1pm and 4pm to 7pm, except on Sundays.

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