Above: Photo by Matthew E.
Helina Metaferia – This Issue’s Featured Artist
Born in Washington D.C. to Ethiopian parents, Helina Metaferia is a painter, a yogi and graphic artist. She attended Temple University’s Tyler School of Art and Morgan State University, where she obtained her BA in Fine Arts. She has exhibited her work at the Eubie Blake Cultural Center, the World Space Center, and the James Lewis Museum.
She is selected to appear as the first guest artist at the upcoming Addis Heights Millennium Arts Exhibition Series in Harlem, New York.
Above: Free Womban, acrylic, pastel and charcoal on paper, 18” x 24”
Artist’s Statement:
The most sacred part of a woman is now reduced to a dirty word. What has once been celebrated and understood as a source of power and creativity is now being cut, abused, and condemned. Many women are taught to be ashamed and embarrassed of their own bodies, especially their wombs. A lack of emotional and spiritual connection to one’s womb is the basis for physical disease, painful or irregular menstruation, misplaced sexuality, poor self-esteem, and other imbalances.
Above: Intuitive Womban, acrylic, pastel, and charcoal on paper 18” x 24”
The mixed media series, Finding Womban, is the visual depiction of women who are on a journey of liberation by healing and rejoicing in their own femininity. The striking and raw faces of women on a quest for soul identity are interwoven with rich subliminal backgrounds of abstracted wombs. The women in the paintings wear explorative expressions, each one seeking to reclaim a power beyond their gender and sexual nature. As the viewer searches for the abstracted wombs within the paintings, the viewer experiences a similar quest to the portrayed woman who, in turn, is searching for her own feminine essence.
Above: Water Womban, acrylic, pastel, and charcoal on paper 25” x 35”
Creating these works of art has been a very vulnerable, intimate experience for me. I birthed each painting so I could begin the process of undoing negative conceptions, self-heal, and find strength in my own womanhood. Inspired by Queen Afua’s book Sacred Womban, Finding Womban is about a journey that each female must endure to feel whole and free.
Above: Opening Womban, acrylic, pastel, and charcoal on paper 18” x 24”
Learn more about the artist at: metaartist.com
For details about Helina’s upcoming show, visit libenslist.com
WOW……amazing.I can not wait to see all your works at the exhibition.
keep it up girl.
Selam to Tadias.
Moges
Dear artist,
I am a young Ethiopian artist and teacher from addis ababa university fine art and design school. Your paintings are realy nice, and it has good expretion quality. The way you compose lines forms and the whole arrengement in each of your painting is excellent. Please send me your e-mail address and let me write to you more.
Selam Helina
It was a real pleasure, and I am proud to see your paintings up for exhibit. I wish I could attend.
Great work, and I know you will excel.
Very proud.
Tena Yestelegn Helina,
I enjoyed watching your art work. It is an absolute joy watching your style of expressing emotions and color. Keep up the good work, you are on the road to success.
I like the bold expression on the faces of your subjects. It is Very engaging.
I admire your work. The combination colors that you used are appealing. I look forward to seeing your art work at the show or in other galleries. Keep it up
Helina, your art has taken on a beautiful direction. I love how you have captured what’s in your mind as an artist and developed wonders for viewers’ eyes. Keep up the great work, Baltimore misses ya!
Hi Hilena,
Gosh, well done!
What a pleasant news to see this. Your pictures are more than abstracts, I am particularly fond of your expressions of feminity and empowering methodology.
Keep up your good work and all the best with your show!
Zekarias from London.
Art is a source of social justice, it expresses one’s scope of vision, it magnifies human desire, both love and hate ! you did it right girl! In your artistic work, you demonstrated the beauty of both clour & love, through women’s image. I found your artistic expression to be very unique. Keep-up the good work, and continue your teaching of love through your artistic work.
ASFAHA
Hi,
good work and all the best with your show!
good work and all the best with your show!
http://www.addisart.com
getahun
Great work Helina
something new
Now when and wehere is your exibit?
Good luck with all your work
Cheers
Helina you are great
amazing work!!! keep it up!!!! you are extermily talented
Amazing Art!