Words and Images of Kebedech Tekleab
Analyse | Éthiopie
17/06/2008
My first experiences with Kebedech Tekleab left an indelible impression in my mind. She had recently arrived in the United States and had recommenced her art studies. As I had modeled professionally in the past, I offered to sit for her. During quiet Friday afternoons I passed silent hours as she painted my portrait. I looked forward to these times, as I would never have taken these moments otherwise-to merely sit, reflect, think and muse. One day, Kebedech stated that she was planning to work on a project that required an engagement in more strenuous activity. Then she told me her story, of the years that she endured as a civilian internee in a concentration camp in Somalia. She wanted to visualize those experiences in her paintings as a research project under the mentorship of renowned artist, Skunder Boghossian. The imaging would depict the torture and brutal physical punishment that the prisoners endured on a daily basis. As I reenacted the physical exercises, I attempted to hide the grimaces that were provoked from the pain that I experienced. Kebedech immediately suggested that I halt the exercises. Weary, but fascinated, I insisted on continuing as I thought: could I not tolerate a bit of discomfort for a few minutes as prisoners had to endure for hours on end or risk further punishment? The sketches became the study for her Punishment Series as part of the visualization of her thesis project: "Humanity In Descent: Visual Images Of Human Suffering." And thus began a fascinating encounter with artist Kebedech Tekleab.
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