The Hidden Forms
Artist Statement — Mehari Teshome
Art, for me, is the sacred architecture of the inner world, a three-decade-long process of translating the complex weights of existence and lived experiences into simplified geometric forms, colors, and lines. I approach the canvas not merely to arrange shapes, but to act as a living conduit for the realities I observe on my daily journeys, spanning from the vibrant communal pulse of Merkato to the subtle, metaphysical realms. My creative practice is rooted in the conviction that every stroke of color and every geometric alignment is a rigorous search for ultimate truth, a deliberate way to bridge the chasm between the physical matter we inhabit and the spiritual dimensions that breathe just beneath the surface of our reality.
This current body of work represents a profound, unexpected evolution of that lifelong philosophy. The genesis of this series was born of a serendipitous moment of temporal alignment; while revisiting a sketchbook from ten years ago, I rediscovered a few raw, dormant lines of early feline studies. Without a premeditated plan, guided by a subconscious emotion, I flipped into this theme, and the process swept me into an entirely new creative chapter. Observing street cats navigating the concrete edges of verandas, courtyards, and trash bins,braving the cold and rain with a fierce resilience,I struck a deep, parallel connection to the raw survival instinct of the community in Merkato, where people fight daily from dawn until dusk to navigate the struggles of existence.
This collection marks a deliberate departure from my past figurative works that centered on social commentary, human interactions, the weight of digital media, and my earlier series, Spirit with a Figure. It leans heavily into raw internal emotion and abstract thought. In this series, the cat serves as the ultimate archetype of this broader inquiry: a magnificent, mysterious sentinel existing simultaneously in the realm of daily street survival and the divine. To me, the cat is a living bridge spanning the spaces between silence and majesty, healing and wrath. Through these pieces, I interrogate their "metaphysical alertness" , capturing the unique, pineal geometry of their shifting eyes when they fixate on you as a metaphor for heightened consciousness, and exploring their subtle, somatic capacity to absorb human suffering through the ritual of the purr.
By weaving together cross-cultural esoteric lore ,from the sacred deities of Ancient Egypt to Tibetan mysticism, these paintings explore the dualities of form and spirit. Through the dramatic interplay of their movements, the grand scale of their fierce defense, and the abstraction of their silent presence that seems to perceive a universe beyond our own, I have given geometric shape to the unseen.
Ultimately, my art is an invitation to the viewer to step across the threshold of the familiar, to look deeply at the everyday struggle for survival, and to decode the profound spiritual language whispering behind the canvas. For art, in its truest essence, is a mystery that carries us into another world when we least expect it.
Exhibition Concept Note: The Pillars of the The Hidden Forms
The Hidden Forms invites viewers into a metaphysical exploration where the feline form becomes a canvas for ancient mysteries and cosmic order. Mehari Teshome’s current body of work operates across four distinct esoteric pillars, transforming the gallery space into a sanctuary of hidden truths:
• The Gateway of Consciousness (የንቃተ ህሊና በር): Mehari isolates the unique, shifting geometry of the cat’s eye—specifically the serpent-like slit pupil—as a direct visual metaphor for the pineal gland. In doing so, the paintings frame the feline gaze not as a passive look, but as an active, heightened state of spiritual awareness capable of scanning unseen dimensions.
• Somatic Healing and Sacrifice (ረቂቅ የፈውስ ኃይል): Central to the collection is the belief in the cat’s natural grace to act as a spiritual shield. Through stylized currents of light and harmonious color blending, the artworks visualize the unseen energy exchange that occurs during the somatic ritual of purring—where the creature absorbs human suffering and neutralizes negative vibrations.
• Metaphysical Alertness (ሚስጥራዊ ንቃት): The collection captures moments of sudden, tense stillness or unprovoked fury in the subjects. These postures are rendered with a raw, physical gravity, representing the feline as a sentinel reacting to a hidden universe entirely veiled from human sight.
• The Lineage of the Guardian (ታሪካዊና መንፈሳዊ ድርሳናት): The series bridges cross-cultural mythologies, weaving threads from the sacred deities of Ancient Egypt to the esoteric Tibetan Buddhist traditions outlined in the teachings of Dr. Lobsang Rampa. The paintings honor the cat as an enduring archetype of protection, good fortune, and intuitive guidance within both the waking and dream worlds.
Artist Biography
Mehari Teshome (b. July 4, 1983, Ethiopia) is a multimedia and conceptually driven visual artist based in Addis Ababa. Raised in the heart of the capital city near Merkato—famed as East Africa’s largest open-air market—Mehari’s early life provided him with a vibrant vantage point to observe a sprawling tapestry of diverse cultures, societal manifestations, and communal values from across the nation.
As a self-taught artist, Mehari has dedicated his practice to examining and extracting the nuances of human interaction with nature, the evolution of society in the digital era, and the sacred, foundational role of women in life. Driven by an innate curiosity and a rigorous self-directed technical discipline, his work seeks to depict and reveal the complex structures, psychological shifts, and unseen spiritual frameworks operating within 21st-century contemporary life.
Since 2005, Mehari has showcased his evolving thematic series to both local and international audiences, solidifying his presence within prominent cultural institutions, galleries, and diplomatic embassies.
Selected Exhibitions
Solo Exhibitions
• 2024 | Solo Exhibition, Anaphora Addis Art Gallery, Addis Ababa
• 2021 | Solo Exhibition, Red Door Art Gallery, Addis Ababa
• 2021 | Solo Exhibition, Fendika Art Gallery, Addis Ababa
Group Exhibitions
• 2024 | Place d’Armes Group Exhibition, Luxembourg-Ville, Luxembourg
• 2024 | Group Exhibition, Aurora Gallery, Addis Ababa
• 2024 | Group Exhibition, Embassy of Germany, Addis Ababa
• 2023 | Group Exhibition, Laphto Art Gallery, Addis Ababa
• 2023 | Group Exhibition, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Addis Ababa
• 2018 | Group Exhibition, Laphto Art Gallery, Addis Ababa
• 2017 | Group Exhibition, German Development Cooperation Office, Addis Ababa
• 2017 | Group Exhibition, Yezbzer Art Gallery, Addis Ababa
• 2017 | Group Exhibition, Trinity Hotel, Addis Ababa
• 2015 | Group Exhibition, National Museum of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa
• 2014 | Group Exhibition, Netsa Art Village, Addis Ababa
• 2014 | Group Exhibition, Monark Hotel, Addis Ababa
• 2014 | Group Exhibition, Radisson Blu Hotel, Addis Ababa
• 2014 | Group Exhibition, Guramayne Art Center, Addis Ababa
• 2013 | Group Exhibition, Italian Cultural Institute, Addis Ababa
• 2011 | Group Exhibition, Gojo Art Gallery, Addis Ababa
• 2010 | Climate Change Workshop Exhibition, UNICEF, Addis Ababa
• 2009 | Joint Exhibition, ECA & UNESCO, Addis Ababa
• 2008 | Group Exhibition, Lucy Gallery, Addis Ababa
• 2008 | Group Exhibition, Addis Ababa University School of Fine Arts Gallery, Addis Ababa
• 2008 | Group Exhibition, Dabran Gallery, Addis Ababa
• 2007 | Group Exhibition, Ethiopia National Theatre Gallery, Addis Ababa
• 2006 | Group Exhibition, Addis Ababa University School of Fine Arts Gallery, Addis Ababa
• 2005 | Group Exhibition, Hilton Hotel, Addis Ababa
• 2005 | Volunteer Art Therapy Workshop, Joy Center for Autism, Addis Ababa