HAPPY

ARTIST TAMRAT FIKADU

BIOGRAPHY

 

My name is Tamrat Fikadu. I was born in Ethiopian Addis Ababa in 1973 in the Gulele area where I grew up with my grandparents who raised me. I learnt Ethiopian magical art from my grandfather.

When I  was ready for school  my parents  sent me to elementary school  near  our village  where I started my education. I graduated high school in Addis Ketema Secondary School where I learnt drawing for five years. I have made exhibitions in different places.

I have studied and researched about Ethiopian magical and traditional art. This developed my sprit knowing this art would become my protection. I have been working on magical art for so long because my spirit was strong. This kind of art needs meditation and spiritual life.  I am Orthodox Christian   and 28 years old now.  There are a few Ethiopian   pioneer artists, namely Eskedner  Bogorsina  who has inspired me.

Sometimes, art is a gift from God. I don’t  think I did  all this  by myself.   My inspiring  comes from God’s grave.

My style is Telsem, Ancient, Magic Spiritual, African, New creative design, modern art. Telsem is Ethiopian spiritual medical people use art for medicine.

 

 

 

ARTIST TAMRAT FIKADU

DIFFERENCE MIXED MEDIA ON WOOD AND LEATHER

GENERAL OVERVIEW

 

Tamrat Fikadu Works (Happy)

The Talismanic, Magical Art

Tamrat is one of the very few magical or Telsem painters in Ethiopia. Tamrat  Fikadu is  a young  Ethiopian upcoming artist.  He is greatly influenced by Ethiopian traditional motifs of Ethiopian Orthodox Church secret paintings. Ethiopian traditional artistic heritages have been source of inspiration for Tamrat talent.

Artist Tamrat devotes extensive studies to the religious symbolism. In other  words, Tamrat  uses  meditation  to display  hidden magical  practices, traditions,  faith,  legends  sprits  into his  paintings. Depictions of new creative design for magic art and this secret knowledge to open but also transform this secret knowledge.  Telsem painting into a distinct traditional Ethiopian art on its way towards   modernity.  He expresses all this on canvas.

Tamrat paintings have traveled around the world and have received lot of admiration as well as value. When tourists visit Ethiopia and buy artifacts from souvenir in shops in Addis Ababa. The foreigners have bought Tamrat Telsem paintings from galleries.

Tamrat - The magic painter/scroll writer

The most prominent themes in Tamrat paintings are: archangel, demons, fishing, the evil eye, amulets, etc. These compositions show motifs from the magic scrolls.

In his paintings, Artist  Tamrat  insists on  preserving and strengthening  the Ethiopian  heritage  which  served as the spark  of  hope  for the African people. Therefore, Tamrat introduces for art lovers, not only the Ethiopian secret wisdom but also the African ancient art.

Tamrat has a great vision to develop a Telsem  magic  painting  in a new   dimension. Many of Tamrat’s paintings are influenced by Christian subject matters.  Tamrat is a vegetarian artist and humanitarian for needy people. He has also a great   respect for guests in his studio.

Tamrat has not graduated from the fine arts school in Addis Ababa. But Tamrat learnt to draw and paint for five years. Moreover, he developed his talent by working day and night in his studio. He uses canvas although work on wood is a daily activity.

Tamrat Fikadu is influenced by the image of Skunder Boghossian. Tamrat’s way of life and philosophy are similar to Skunder.  For instance, Skunder got immersed in the conceptual framework of Orthodox visual expression. He highlighted basic techniques of the dabtara’ scrolls. Many have said that the pertinent imagery of his works derived from the Orthodox dabtara magic scrolls. Debtara is a scholar who is said to have knowledge of magical powers and can connect with the spirits. In fact, Skunder started the day by sprinkling the house with St. Michael’s holy water and meditation. (JES no 3 vol XXXVII no 2 Dec-2004.)

In the same fashion, Artist Tamrat is a follower of Ethiopian Orthodox Church. He believes in mediation and spiritual life for flowing magical secret art. The patron angel for Tamrat is Saint Michael. He always drinks holy water in the morning. Tamrat is inspired by Skunder who showed in his life a deep attachment to Ethiopia and Ethiopian things. (Shiferaw Bekele JES Vd. XXXVII, No  Ro 12). Tamrat loves his country Ethiopia.  He says Ethiopia is a Miracle Holy Land. The mountains, the rivers, the landscape, the market, the town and the rural area of Ethiopia are the great messages for Tamrat’ soul. Artist Tamrat has a deep feeling of nationalism for his country Ethiopia in particular, the political and economic independence for Africans in general. Ethiopia and Africa have a secret meaning.