Image: One of the artworks by Henok Melkamzer
Sharjah Art Foundation, in collaboration with The Africa Institute, Global Studies University (GSU), and Sharjah Museums Authority, presents Henok Melkamzer’s first international solo exhibition of Ethiopian telsem art – his largest presentation to date. Henok Melkamzer: Telsem Symbols and Imagery brings together over 100 works, giving audiences a rare look at a distinctive, highly intricate form of art. The exhibition is on view at Sharjah Art Museum from 24 February to 16 June 2024.
Engaging with astrology, religion and spirituality, telsem art interweaves symbols, drawings and texts imbued with spiritual and philosophical significance. Although it was originally deployed to heal personal ailments, it has been shaped over centuries into its current manifestation by the sociopolitical and cultural histories of Ethiopia. Henok’s telsem practice expands the use of the form, combining ancient inspirations and modern idioms to contemplate and unravel the complex ailments of the contemporary world, including climate disasters, war and poverty. Henok Melkamzer: Telsem Symbols and Imagery offers unprecedented insight into telsem art through the work of one of its most prolific contemporary practitioners. A commissioned artist in the second Lahore Biennial and a participant in The Africa Institute (GSU)’s 2019 conference Ethiopia: Modern Nation – Ancient Roots, Henok has attained international acclaim for his work as a proponent of telsem and an advocate for his cultural heritage. Based in Addis Ababa at a studio on Mount Entoto, Henok maintains a strong interest in preserving telsem within his community, having himself learned the intricacies of the practice from his father and grandfather, who were telsem healers. This exhibition debuts a wide array of new paintings on canvas, made using traditional natural pigments as well as the more unconventional acrylic, one of Henok’s modernised adaptations of the form. The highly decorative and visually complex works, filled with dense, multicoloured patterns of vines, symbols, words and numbers, demonstrate the beauty and vitality of telsem today.
“Despite its aesthetic appeal and the fact that it continues to be practiced today, telsem is often characterised within western frameworks as an archaic healing or talismanic art, a perspective that excludes it from many discussions of modernism,” said exhibition curator Elizabeth Giorgis, Associate Professor of Art History, Theory and Criticism at The Africa Institute (GSU), Sharjah. “By introducing audiences to the stunning work of Henok Melkamzer – a modern-day master of telsem – we aim to offer a more contemporary, nuanced view of this incredibly rich art form, placing it in the global conversations within which it belongs.”
Organised by Sharjah Art Foundation, in collaboration with The Africa Institute, Sharjah, and Sharjah Museums Authority, the exhibition is curated by Elizabeth Giorgis, Associate Professor of Art History, Theory and Criticism, The Africa Institute, with Amal Al Ali, Curatorial Assistant of Sharjah Art Foundation.
Image: One of the artworks by Henok Melkamzer
Sharjah Art Foundation is an advocate, catalyst and producer of contemporary art within the Emirate of Sharjah and the surrounding region, in dialogue with the international arts community. The Foundation advances an experimental and wide-ranging programmatic model that supports the production and presentation of contemporary art, preserves and celebrates the distinct culture of the region and encourages a shared understanding of the transformational role of art. The Foundation’s core initiatives include the long-running Sharjah Biennial, featuring contemporary artists from around the world; the annual March Meeting, a convening of international arts professionals and artists; grants and residencies for artists, curators and cultural producers; ambitious and experimental commissions; and a range of travelling exhibitions and scholarly publications. Established in 2009 to expand programmes beyond the Sharjah Biennial, which launched in 1993, the Foundation is a critical resource for artists and cultural organisations in the Gulf and a conduit for local, regional and international developments in contemporary art. The Foundation’s deep commitment to developing and sustaining the cultural life and heritage of Sharjah is reflected through year-round exhibitions, performances, screenings and educational programmes in the city of Sharjah and across the Emirate, often hosted in historic buildings that have been repurposed as cultural and community centres. A growing collection reflects the Foundation’s support of contemporary artists in the realisation of new work and its recognition of the contributions made by pioneering modern artists from the region and around the world. Sharjah Art Foundation is a legally independent public body established by Emiri Decree and supported by government funding, grants from national and international nonprofits and cultural organisations, corporate sponsors and individual patrons. Hoor Al Qasimi serves as President and Director. All exhibitions are free and open to the public.
Established in 2018, The Africa Institute, Global Studies University (GSU) in Sharjah, UAE, is an interdisciplinary academic research institute dedicated to the study, research and documentation of Africa and the African diaspora. As the only institution of its kind located in the Gulf – the historical nexus of African-Arab cultural exchange – The Africa Institute is uniquely positioned to expand understanding of African and African diaspora studies as a global enterprise. The Africa Institute’s curriculum of postgraduate studies is designed to train the next generation of critical thinkers in African and African diaspora studies through its programme of international symposia and conferences, visual art exhibitions and artist commissions, film and performance series, and community classes and outreach events. The Institute is expanding public understanding of Arab and African exchange within not only the scholarly community but also the local Sharjah community, the region and around the globe. The Institute is led by director Dr Salah M. Hassan and president Hoor Al Qasimi.
As directed by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed AlQasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, the Sharjah Museums Authority (SMA) was established in 2006 as an autonomous government authority. SMA links and oversees 16 museums across Sharjah that cover widely varied fields, including Islamic art and culture, archaeology, heritage, science, marine life, as well as the history of Sharjah and the region.
Our vision is to be a cultural beacon that enhances Sharjah’s identity locally and internationally and contribute in nurturing a community aware of museums’ importance as a cultural, educational and enjoyable destination.
Our mission is to deliver the highest museum standards to preserve collections and enhance an appreciation of culture and learning through our exhibitions, educational and community programmes.
Sharjah is the third largest of the seven United Arab Emirates and the only one bridging the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Reflecting the deep commitment to the arts, architectural preservation and cultural education embraced by its ruler, Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Sharjah is home to more than 20 museums and has long been known as the cultural hub of the United Arab Emirates. In 1998, it was named UNESCO's Arab Capital of Culture, and in 2019, it was designated the UNESCO World Book Capital.
Alyazeyah AlMarri
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Sharjah Art Foundation
Tel: +971-6-544-4113, ext. 26