Art: imitation of nature

By Leulseged worku

“All art is an imitation of nature.”—Seneca, Roman philosopher, c. 4 B.C.–A.D. 65. Nature is a splendid handiwork of God. It is the masterpiece of God. Nature embraces in its bosom all the beautiful creations-- the songs of birds, the forests exuding fresh air, the gushing of fountains, the glamorous mountains, the eye-pooping rocks, the eye-catching gorges, the colorful birds roving the sky, the bubbling of brooks , .....

As a creature of God, man has been and is still striving to imitate the works of God through different artistic works. It is common to see artists ,in the workshop of their imaginative mind, reproducing nature in the form of sculptures, paintings, drawings, and films, as well as other forms of artistic media. Down the road of history, using his talent, man has produced several artistic works that reflect his internal feelings. In this regard, nature has a great power in inspiring him.

No matter what kind of media they use, artists are exceptional from other members of the society in observing and reflecting their internal feelings through their works. Eyeing mother nature as the object of their masterpiece, artists aspire to copy what they observe. Even there are moments when to some extent that artistic works (paintings) exceeds nature. Such occurrences happen at times when the artists add extra value to their works.

When a given painter adopt this trend, nature becomes sense provoking and more inspiring. Using their third eyes or sixth sense organ, artists have the power to see what most of us fail to notice. They have extra perception to add taste on what they observe and inspire people through their work. Thus, it safe to claim that nature is a model as well as a teacher.

Artist Mezgebu Tesema is one of Ethiopian painters who has the power to inspire humankind through his brushes. Very recently, at National Museum he had staged a solo exhibition entitled Nigs, a connotative word—a religious anniversary and becoming superb.

Through his paintings artist Mezgebu had in a fashionable way captured and portrayed the beauty of nature and the culture of Ethiopia. And I had been with him for half an hour to discuss his works and get a glimpse of his life experience.

Mezgebu was born and brought up in the rural part of Ethiopia where the beauty of nature and culture often prove at their zenith. He grew up in the countryside watching and admiring God's architectural beauty. The sun bathing the landscape with rays of light.Cows, goats and sheep enjoying their unbridled freedom on the green pasture had a great meaning for him. That is why he opt to depict them on his canvas.

Though his years seem advanced, his memory is still fresh. Rummaging in the store room of his memory, he still recalls the all engrossing pleasure of watching the sun-- by way of setting-- that takes a refuge behind the huge rock. It is still fresh in his mind how oxen reclined peacefully on the green mantle.

In his paintings, Mezgebu gives life to the lifeless rocks. Though Mezgebu`s paintings are smooth, they look as if they are rough. Though the paintings are in the exhibition room, viewers feel that they are admiring nature firsthand at sightseeing touristic spots.

Viewers ascribe this to Mezgebu's gift and creative talent of portraying paintings out of frame-- or in a 3D plane.

Art and culture in the eyes of Mezgebu: During my stay with Mezgebu I had asked him about the relationship between art and culture. According to him, culture is the other side of life. Culture plays an important role in the development of any nation. It represents and promotes a set of shared attitudes, values, goals and practices. Therefore, culture and creativity manifest themselves in almost all economic, social and other activities of a country. In this regard, a country as vast as Ethiopia, hosting a multitude of nations and nationalities, is symbolized by the plurality of its culture.

Epiphany( Timket) is one of Ethiopian holidays. The day is celebrated on January 19 Tire 10/11 the Ethiopian calendar. This day is observed in Ethiopian Orthodox church annually to observe the baptism of Jesus Christ at the river Jordan. This day has a special meaning to all orthodox christian believers among others. On the day, people from different walks of life gather together to honer the ark of the covenant.

According to Mezgebu, though Timket is a religious holiday, it has also cultural components. It is also a day when elders, youths and children from both sex come together to pass a merry time.

According to EoC the holy arks taken as the embodiment of Christ stay at nearby fields having rivers that represent river Jordan. After the arks are safely escorted back to respective churches in colorful procession, everyone goes home to enjoy feasts. Then a large crowd will assemble at the ritual site again,for those who went home, after a nap, return back.

The day has a special meaning for girls and boys. Dressed up in their Sunday bests, the excited girls chant and sing to their hearts content on this day of real freedom they chance once in a year. In most cases it could also be an occasion when they come across their would be spouses. Likewise,Timket has also a special place for the young men. It is an event in which they will demonstrate their singing or dancing talent to their friends. It is the time that they woo flirting girls that could turn their future soul-mates. And that is what I tried to show in one of my works, the colorful event of Nigs Beal-Timket(Epiphany).

Art and politics in the eyes of Mezgebu: During my stay with Mezgebu I had asked him about the existing status of art in Ethiopia. According to him, the change of political systems has brought changes on art.

Unlike the previous regimes where each and every artistic works were censored by the eagle-eyed Dergue politicians, no one dared to engage on painting even to win a bread.

Nowadays, people can express themselves through their artistic works. They can draw any kind of painting that inspire them. But in those darker days, due to censorship, the vent-hole for expressing oneself through paintings was not an easy task if not barred. Each and every work was scrutinized by the eyes of politicians. All works were scrutinized. If the cadres found out something fishy, the artist could face danger. But, now the trend has changed. You can draw anything you want.

What is more, currently, there is a common belief among artists that painting can be a source of income. In those periods of suppression there was a common belief that painting can not bake bread. For that matter art was not also considered as a profession. But nowadays, exhibition centers and exhibitors have increased dramatically.

At the end of our talk I have forwarded to Mezgebu my final question concerning his life principles.

Responding to this Mezgebu said, as an artist and art teacher, I have three life principles.

The first one is I have a firm belief that any one who see through what s/he started is a hero. So, whatever things I` ve started, it must be finished. “If you are fickle or start one thing and diverted your attention to another, you can not be be fruitful. You have to focus on things you have started.”
The other thing that I took as my life principle is art. That is why I consecrated my entire life on it.

Respecting family is my third principle in life. Though art is my life, family is the most important thing that I give value in my daily activities. Therefore, I have a responsibility to look for my family. If a family head discharges his responsibility properly, he certainly minimizes the burden of the government. It is my firm belief that family is the core of any society. If the head of the family is corrupt, he will produce corrupt citizens for the country. However ,if family heads feel responsibility for their family they can produce responsible citizens.

Being born in the Northern Shoa administrative region of Ethiopia, Mezgebu started his education at the Enewari elementary school. As a child Mezgebu was adventurous and very active, his early days mark the starting point of his affectionate bond with mother nature and her majestic beauty. Mezgebu enjoyed doodling images of his surrounding on his exercise books .He also liked decorating his classroom desk with sketches. Mezgebu savored wandering around the magnificent landscapes of his environment, enjoyed the long walks with his childhood friends and relished the chatter with the locale farmers and cattle use to make his day.

Mezgebu then went on to Highlemariam Mamo Comprehensive School in Debrebrehan for higher education; it was then it dawned on him he is born to be a painter. His youth mostly featured art, volleyball and soccer. Mezgebu did extend a helping hand when asked to draw paintings for different events including the parent’s day ceremonies. It is successfully Mezgebu finished highs school education. This paved the way to his enrollment to the AAU, Ale School of Fine Art and Design. As college student Mezgebu was always eager to learn and had a reputation of a hard worker and a well-disciplined student.

Mezgebu then graduated with honors and won a scholarship that allowed him to study at the Ilya Efimovitch Repin Leningrad Institute for Painting, Sculpture and Architecture.

He spent seven remarkable years studying and being inspired by the works of the world’s most renowned artists. He spent the seven years learning about the mysteries of art. Mezgebu then finished his master’s program with the highest honors.

He then returned to Ethiopia to embark on the career of his life--painting. Through the enriching experience of higher learning Mezgebu developed his artistic instincts and skills. Combining his childhood experiences and inspirations with his skills he was able to give vent to probing insights and wonderful philosophies which are reflected on all of his art works.