Reflections on Imageries of Seductive Sublimity

Abstract

This essay presents a context for and appreciation of the works of Ethiopian artist Kebedech Tekleab in the exhibition Blue and Gray: This Era of Exile. Examining not only the author’s personal feelings and admiration for the works, the discussion shows how the selections strongly relate to contemporary issues, which are poetically anchored in relevant academic theories. This methodology complements the seductive beauty that infuses the array of colorful media and the aesthetic ideas contained therein. It also highlights the interpreted “truth” of well-grounded works of art. The background of Tekleab is integral to her aesthetic preferences. The colors and movements within her works reveal much about her Ethiopian/African cultural background in terms of harmony and sublime sensitivity. The shimmering quality of translucent light, rhythmic shapes, wavy forms, and musical Amharic sounds create a sense of transcendence, tapping into what the viewers “see” and “hear” when they allow themselves to delve into observing and enjoying Tekleab’s sublime art. Theories and concepts from philosophers, critics, and artists as varied as Plato, Clement Greenberg, Frank Stella, and John Cage are included as points of reference directing readers to the strengths of Tekleab’s achievements. Aiming not so much to authenticate her irrespressibly original works as to validate continuity between past and present in choice of topics and styles, the essay highlights the power of the artist in communicating the story of humanity and the unending struggle of people to survive.