Beled
This work is part of a series of textile installation Inspired by my heritage and contemporary art. It involves revisiting of ceremonial garments, indigenous textile, and narratives. This specific work is composed of features used by Ethiopian patriots called beled (በለድ፣), is a very historical piece of fabric used to cover a horse saddle and often been used as ceremonial garments by Ethiopian patriots for a long time until now. It is a very colorful, hand made and Meticulously embroidered fabric, each individual piece is embellished with a regional tribal pattern and a symbol featuring a golden lion. a symbol of the country and patriots (mostly used by Ethiopian equestrians at the time of anti colonial war). also been adopted as an important symbol by Rastafarians.
The whole installation comprises pieces collected from different people and part of Ethiopia. I see the work as a piece of quilt and monument made by the contributions of several people. This series is also in a continuous progress into large scale textile installation to combine it with public spaces. since it is embedded with narratives and contradictions past to the present, the viewer could experience it by walking through it and not necessarily by looking at it.
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