The Third Eye

Exhibition by artist Mehari Teshome

Anaphora Ethiopic Art Center |Addis Ababa

September 14 - October 26, 2024

In his first solo exhibition in years, renown artist Mehari Teshome has built an entirely new collection for us to delight upon. Drawing inspiration from the neighborhood of Merkato in Addis Ababa where he grew up, Mehari new work is filled with colorful figures caught between the ordinary tasks that populate our days. It’s easy to get lost in the wondering gaze of the artwork; each one demands from us a different kind of tending, a different of attention.

In fact, Mehari’s work is unique in that sense: it requires each of us to partake in the worlds and worlds it has built, our engagement is necessary in order for us to interpret the purpose of each work.

Unlike any other artist of his caliber who may choose to put themselves in the work first, Mehari seems to have diligently taken himself out from each work, not by way of erasing the artist, rather, to give way for us to see ourselves reflected back. This kind of artistry is expected only from someone whose life has been dedicated completely to furthering his art, one way or another. It comes from a knowing self, one that does not look towards self-reflection or indulgence, but rather brings each of us onto the canvas, as if to say, here, there is room for you too.

And indeed, there is room for each of us; to delight, to marvel in, and to linger long after we’ve gazed upon the artwork, and back to the world.

Read the full catalogue for The Third Eye.