ETHIOPIA: African Union and European Union jointly inaugurate a traveling exhibition of African Art in the capital Addis Ababa

Record ID: 574071

  • Title: ETHIOPIA: African Union and European Union jointly inaugurate a traveling exhibition of African Art in the capital Addis Ababa
  • Date: 26th January 2012
  • Summary: ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA (JANUARY 25, 2011) (REUTERS-ACCESS ALL) EXTERIOR OF AFRICAN UNION (AU) COMPOUND DELEGATES GATHERING FOR OPENING OF EXHIBITION CURRENT AU CHAIR JEAN PING SHAKING HANDS WITH VISITORS
  • Embargoed: 10th February 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Ethiopia, Ethiopia
  • Country: Ethiopia
  • Reuters ID: LVAAIF3GZC66SHHO991LMNKVVWAI
  • Story Text: A travelling exhibition of African art was inaugurated in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa today to coincide with the opening of the latest African Union summit.
    Displaying pictures from artists across the continent, the exhibit is a joint effort between the African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU).
    It's designed to showcase a selection of paintings, drawings and photographs from across the spectrum of Africa's art scene.
    On site to oversee the opening was current chairman of the AU Jean Ping. He was accompanied by some of the artists exhibiting in the show as well as delegates from the EU.
    "The project was conceived to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of around 20 African Countries by highlighting the richness and diversity of African Artists and the need to take into account culture as a vector for development," EU ambassador to the AU Gary Quince said to the gathered crowd.
    Among the work displayed are photos from apartheid South Africa, magazine covers from the 1950s and more modern work from young, up and coming artists.
    Mulugeta Kidan, an artist from Addis Ababa is one of the more abstract artists represented.
    "The inspiration of this work is the current situation in Addis Ababa, the deconstruction and construction process, so I did not literally paint that but the inspiration is from that," he said.
    For Kidan and the other young in the show, it's a good chance for publicity.
    "The benefit of this is mainly, this is the African Union summit, many people will come here to see the show so it is a good exposure to the Artist," said Michael Tsegaye a photographer.
    The exhibition will be open until the end of the summit next week, when it will be taken on a tour of African capitals.
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