Yosief Indrias

MY ART AND I

All my art works reflect the painstaking research into Byzantine Abyssinian art, as it is well known that the Abyssinians, the present people of Ethiopia and Eritrea, are among the first Christians on earth. In many churches in Abyssinia traces are found of that background, 3000 years ago. Amongst the oldest churches, the Axum church is the most remarkable symbol proving this claim.
The Axumite kingdom was one of the oldest kingdoms on earth. It is here that the Ark of the Covenant was brought from Israel to Abyssinia by the order of great king Solomon and kept in Axum church in a safe and respected place (a holy place). This Ark of the Covenant was brought here by King Menelik- I, son of King Solomon of Israel and Queen Sheba of Abyssinia. I am impressed by the biblical story of Queen Sheba. It is well documented that Queen Sheba had a son from king Solomon of Israel, the son who was later to be known as BAN AKIM (= born in the Abyssinia), in a place known as May- Bela , which in Tigrigna (one of the Abyssinian languages) literally means, give me water. It is said that these were the words spoken by Queen Sheba, when about to give birth, she asked the people to bring her water.
The Abyssinians were civilized people in all aspects, before modern civilization surfaced. We inherited many valuable things such as art, crafts and statues and there are many ancient buildings, forts and castles. The Abyssinians regarded art as a sacred occupation. Therefore it is not surprising to find painted and curved church walls and pillars in the style of art known as Byzantine art. Many churches in Abyssinia are the pride of Abyssinians, and many artists who come from there, are rooted in that culture and historical background which is reflected in their paintings..
Therefore, my role as a painter is to transfer these images of old paintings into the present time. Abyssinians are the only people in Africa who have maintained their own alphabetical and numerical order up to the present time. And we, artists of Abyssinian origin, have maintained our own artistic symbols, inherited from the walls of the churches, rocks and caves, left by our forefathers. These artistic symbols of course have been one way of expression reflecting their day-to-day lives. I for one use those symbols in my art works as an expression of cultural heritage and reflecting the historical background of our ancestors.
My art works as a mirror of old days reflecting our modern time. Although in my paintings one will discover some touches from contemporary art, which is the heritage of the lessons of great artists such as Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Vincent Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Rembrandt, Abyssinian art symbols still remain the background to convey my message to the world.

What is the role of the artist in society?

I, of course found that the role of an artist has always been through his /her work to pass on a message, of what is happening in day- to- day life of the people of our own community and their surroundings, to express personal feelings, to exhibit cultural heritage, and one’s own talent, as well as entertaining, decorating both body and soul. This expression varies in different conditions and situations, may it be happiness, sorrow, love, dispute .etc …
As I have mentioned previously I see my role as to present an expression of my feelings and observation of the events taking place around our own community and other parts of the world. Personally as an artist my role is to maintain and sustain our cultural heritage and historical background by mixing ancient Abyssinian symbols and modern ones. I see art as a factor in cultural exchanges which doesn’t know colour lines, ethnical, religious or language barriers, or any differences that can form an hindrance to bring people together.
I, as an artist, regard myself as a fighter who fights for peace in my yard and outside. My gun is a brush and the colours are my bullets and the paper or canvas is my battleground. My preoccupation is to create solution by peace and love and not confusion. I believe great power is great responsibility. Therefore, through my art pieces I tell people and the leaders of the world that they should use power to govern in a peaceful way, with comfort, and sense of humour, rather than misusing the power for personal ego, greed and irresponsibity to others. I also believe my work is to record day-to-day life of people and in the long run to become an archive for future generation’s heritage.
Evidently the pride of great Abyssinia has dramatically disappeared through experiences of divisions, conflicts, bloody wars, and what prevails today is disparity, ignorance and disrespect, in spite of the greatness of Abyssinia, the land of Queen Sheba, the land of great kings. Therefore, through my art I task myself to bring hope, love and understanding, turning it into a bridge linking people together, regardless of their colour background or language barriers, to bring the rivals together, rich and poor, old and young, women and men to share love and happiness, which is what every human being needs.
My philosophy is contemporary Pan-Africanism, born out of the ancient Pan-Africanism philosophy with the aim of bringing the people together. Emulating the past, by realising love, peace and harmony to create understanding and tolerance, turning out our Earth a peaceful place to live. In my art works I substantially try to demonstrate my quest for peace by making the surfaces of my paintings look cool and quiet , rather than shouting and striking.


My motto is
“To create peace, be peaceful yourself first”

Yosief Indrias.
Rebel Painter.

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Education

Edget Elementary and junior school, Eritrea

Barka High School, Eritrea

Asmara Technical School, Eritrea, graduated in Architectural Draftsmanship

Asmara Fine Art School, Eritrea



Work & professional experience

1999 Participation in an art competition in Asmara, Eritrea.

2000 Teacher in Architecture at Nairobi College, Kenya.

2006 Cultural coordinator of Yolé! Africa, Kampala, Uganda.



Responsibilities:

- Ensure that work by Yolé! Africa’s artists are exhibited both within Uganda and abroad.

- Coordinate in Y! A’s cultural exchange programs where we meet people of diverse backgrounds and we discuss contemporary issues concerning Africa and the world in general.

- Leading a 3-days art workshop for orphans in Kampala, Uganda.

- Leading a week Art Workshop for Refugees in Kampala, Uganda.

- Active participation in the Baobabconnections activities.

- Contributing artist for fundraising for Nsambya babies Home.


Exhibitions

2001 Amsterdam, The Netherlands

2002 Tulifanya African Art Gallery, Kampala, Uganda.

5th International Women Conference at Makerere University.

2003 Chiefs and Spirits Art gallery, The Hague, The Netherlands.

Culture Centre, Bemmel, The Netherlands

Ursula Kapel, Roermond, The Netherlands

Minderbroederskerk, Roermond, The Netherlands

2004 Tulifanya African Art Gallery Kampala, Uganda.

Amakula International Film festival, Kampala, Uganda.

Boshotel Vlodrop, The Netherlands

Fête des Arts, Roermond, The Netherlands

Stadsbibliotheek, Roermond, The Netherlands

Ursula Kapel Roermond, The Netherlands

Scholengemeenschap St. Ursula, Horn, the Netherlands

Art Exhibition at AfriArt Gallery, Sep 2004.

Participated in the “ ART FOR ABATO” fundraising for Nsambya

babies Home and donated my Art Pieces.Oct 2004.

Participated and Won the first in the world youth art contest in

fund raising for World Youth Peace Summit and donated my artwork

for the new-year Post card. Bangkok, Oct 27, 2004.

Organised and Participated an Art Exhibition for Fundraising for

“orphans of Eritrean Martyrs” Dec, 3,2004 and donated my art pieces.

2005 Art exhibition at Afriart Gallery Sep 2005.

Art exhibition at Kunst Werk gallery the Netherlands, Sep 18, 2005.

Art Exihibition at U.N.H.C.R Kampala, Uganda.

2006 Art exhibition at African studies center Leiden University, the Netherlands.

Art Exhibition to help Orphans of Nsambya babies home. The event was at Amin

Pasha Hotel titled “Like what you see”. June 15, 2006.

Art Exhibition at Citta di Torino- Centro Interculturale, Italy- 29 Nov 2006
2009 Red Bluff Art Gallery 516 Walnut st., Red Bluff, California, January, 2009.



Award

2006 Golden mirror Award winner of 2006 Ugandan art contest.



Workshop

2006 conducted art workshop in Turin Italy for street children and students.



Publicity

2002 Interview on Radio Maria titled ‘Artist in exile’, 2002. 27, 2002.

2002 The Monitor, Ugandan independent daily newspaper, November

Sep 6, 2003.

2004 Television of Democratic Republic of Congo mentioned my contribution to World of art

A documentary film, titled ‘On both sides’, was made of my day-to-

day work as a painter as part of the Amakula International Film

festival in Kampala, Uganda.

Beelden van vluchtelingen uit Kampala , an article in Dagblad De

Limburger, The Netherlands.

NewVision News paper,Uganda,Sep 3,2004.

Interview with WBS Television Uganda,Sep 7,2004.

The Vanguard,Ugandan Independent weekly news paper, Friday

,December17,2004 and another edition in Friday ,January 7 ,2005

titled “ The Life Of An Eritrean Artist” .

Interview with an Ethiopian Monthly Megazine,Dec 7,2004.

2005 Interview with Radio FM Uganda( Mama Fm).

Interview with an Ethiopian Megazine title “Life in Art”,April 1,2005.

2006 Interview with East African Tv,Feb15 2006.

Interview with La Stampa Italian daily news paper titled ‘ DOVE LA MIA CASA’ 29 November 2006.
2008 My art work was selected for book covers in Stockholm,Sweden.

2009 An article on http://dehai.org/archives/dehai_news_archive/jan-mar09/0281.html


REFERENCES



Alliance Françoise, Kampala, Uganda.

Tulifanya African Art Gallery, Kampala, Uganda (www.tulifanya.com).

Stichting Ijayo, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (www.stichting-ijayo.nl).

Baobabconnections, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (www.baobabconnections.org).

Both Ends, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (www.bothends.org).

World Youth Peace Summit (www.wyps.org).

Nsambya Babies Home Kampala, Uganda.
http://www.redbluffartgallery.com/
http://www.artslant.com/global/artists/show/51701-yosief-indrias-habties


Eritrean Community Kampala, Uganda.

Eritrean Youth Association Nairobi, Kenya.

Leiden University African Studies Center Netherlands.

http://www.redbluffartgallery.com/featured-Yosief.htm

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