Côte d' Ivoirian artist presents exhibition with Ethiopian

By Alemayehu Seife Selassie

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia - A Côte d’ Ivorian artist Pierre-Antoine Goho and his Ethiopian counterpart Bitsuamlak Ashenafi this week presented their works to hundreds of audience at the Ethiopian National Theatre art Gallery.

The two artists have different experiences in their own field but presenting their works together was one experience they were thrilled with.
A graduate of the Addis Ababa School of Fine Arts Bitsuamlak has taken part in six group exhibitions but he has never had the chance to take part in an exhibition with a foreign artist before. Before becoming a fulltime studio artist two months ago, Bitsuamlak has taught art at two different schools.

It has taken Bitsuamlak two months to present the specific works for the exhibition.
Goho on his part took some technique classes from University of Maryland where he is based. Coming to Ethiopia to study Ethiopian art, in 2006, the artist’s cornet work is his fourth in Ethiopia. This artist has presented his works at the embassy of Côte d’Ivoire, Olive Garden, Addis Ababa University prior to his recently ended art exhibition.

“This time we are trying to link artists from Côte d’Ivoire to Ethiopia and from America to Africa, so this is something we have always wanted to do”. He expresses the significance.
Goho has always wanted to visit the two countries Liberia and Ethiopia because they have not been colonized. “I have seen an Ethiopian painting and I have also come to know about the great Marathon athlete Abebe Bekila”, Goho adds.

Coming to Ethiopia in January 2006, this artist has spent six months to present his first exhibition at his embassy. “This time, I want to share the stage with an Ethiopian artist. Being an artist in your corner you won’t grow. That is why we got to share stages”, he said.
Contacting Bitsuamlak, through the Alliance Ethio-Française where the artist has presented his works, Goho has presented his works, which are fused with some materials like Kil, a hollow fruit. And his works are sold from 1,000-4000 Birr where as the works of the Ethiopian artist range from 1,000-5,000 Birr.

Having done 11 paintings, for the Côte d’Ivoire embassy for free, Goho has taken international exposure in his works presenting exhibitions in Kenya, Côte d’Ivoire, America and Thailand. And he states that the current exhibition, which was visited by over a hundred people every day from June 15-20.

David Beck, a US artist who came to see the exhibition expressed his opinion saying, “The Ethiopian artists are wonderful. I just wished that they had a lot of exposure. Even in America there are many great Ethiopian artists but the exposure is very limited”, he said. Also expressing his feelings towards Pierre-Antoine Goho’s works he added, “This is a unique art. I like his use of color, his utilization of common equipment they have in the country with in his work.”

June 23, 2007