The Sharjah Art Museum is showcasing Henok Melkamzer: Telsem Symbols and Imagery, marking the international solo debut of Henok Melkamzer, a telsem’s leading contemporary artist. Organised by the Sharjah Art Foundation in collaboration with The Africa Institute (Sharjah) and the Sharjah Museums Authority, the exhibition is curated by Elizabeth Giorgis (Associate Professor of Art History, Theory, and Criticism at the Africa Institute) and Amal Al Ali (Curatorial Assistant at SAF). It will be available to visit until the 16th of June, 2024.
Telsem, an ancient Ethiopian talismanic art form, incorporates elements of astrology, religion, and spirituality. This art intertwines symbols, drawings, and texts imbued with spiritual and philosophical significance. Initially created upon request to bring good fortune in health and wealth, telsem has evolved through Ethiopia’s dynamic sociopolitical and cultural landscape.
Henok Melkamzer: Telsem Symbols and Imagery is Melkamzer’s most comprehensive exhibition to date, featuring more than 100 of his recent and earlier paintings on canvas. His intricate and visually complex works utilise traditional pigments, such as vegetable dyes, alongside unconventional acrylics. Through his art, Melkamzer expands the boundaries of telsem, blending ancient traditions with modern expressions to address pressing global issues like the climate crisis and poverty.
In Western contexts, telsem is often narrowly categorized as healing or talismanic art, which excludes it from many modernist art discussions. This exhibition challenges such limited perspectives and sheds light on one of Ethiopia’s most captivating modernist art practices.
About the artist
Henok Melkamzer spent 16 years in a monastery in Bahir Dar (Ethiopia), studying telsem. He also honed his craft under the guidance of his father and grandfather, both esteemed telsem healers. A passionate advocate for his cultural heritage, Melkamzer is dedicated to preserving telsem within his community and sharing this art form with a broader audience.
The artist has exhibited his works in various shows, for example, Men Neber (2018), a solo exhibition held at the Modern Art Museum (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia). In 2022, he participated in the Ethiopia: Modern Nation – Ancient Roots conference at The Africa Institute in Sharjah, and in 2020, he was a commissioned artist for the Second Lahore Biennial in Pakistan.
To get more information about Telsem Symbols and Imagery, please visit the exhibition’s official web page.
You might also be interested in visiting Sheher, Prakriti, Devi, a group exhibition at the Ishara Art Foundation.
To stay tuned and be sure that you will not miss our latest art news, you can join our Telegram channel.
