By Tibebesselassie Tigabu

An art exhibition entitled ‘Meeting Here’ opended on Thursday at German House presenting the works of an Irish photographer, Trevor Cole, and Wondwossen Beyene, an Ethiopian painter and sculptor. In the exhibition Trevor Cole presented his works which cover the diversity and extremes of Ethiopia in landscape and its people. On his parts Wondwossen, the renowned artist, portrayed his mixed media works.

The exhibition gave the two artists an opportunity to show their art and tell different versions of Ethiopian stories and tales by blending the views of on Irish and an Ethiopian.

“The theme is totally Ethiopian. I took this pictures covering Ethiopia from Afar, to the extreme south, west and then to east. It is a wide diversity of images. ‘Meeting Here’ basically is about Ethiopia. Me being from Ireland and Wondwossen form Ethiopia, we are from two different cultures and we are both producing material form the same country and expressing that in art form,” Cole said.

Around 70 pieces of art will be presented collectively by the two artists in the exhibition. Cole, who has been residing in Ethiopia since 2006, has a unique connection with the country which, he says, inspires him every day.

“I have traveled to over 90 countries and Ethiopia is one of the most beautiful countries I have been to, the landscape, people, and color is magnificent. Ethiopia has a unique tropical light, especially if you get a blend of all the features together. Sometimes you get very dramatic light, especially early morning and late afternoon, that low-level light that warms everything,” says Cole.

Cole started photography at early age and it has been his passion for a long time. He travels the world over to capture life’s moments and communicates that through the different pictures he takes.

“Every photograph I take recalls the moment I had; the pictures are part of my life history, diary of life, and reflections of my life. The pictures represent how I lived my life.”

Even though he started taking pictures a long time ago, he has staged a limited number of exhibitions as his life has been caught up with teaching and traveling.

He started showing his works recently. He says the reason for displaying his works was to share his passion for people and his philosophy, which is embodied in his pictures.

Aside to sharing his passions, he tries to create awareness through his photographs, especially by showing how beautiful the landscape is and preserving it in his pictures.

“I believe fully in the concepts of sustainable tourism and development and in trying to support a perspective which enables a greater harmony to exist between people and their environment. I often use my images to educate or enhance the knowledge of other. This has promoted not only my own areas of interest but also a genuine interest in travel to others. Considered reflections may be used to market and to disseminate and promote acquired knowledge in a stimulating way. To record an image digitally or on film certainly helps to bring the reality of such experiences to life.”

After the exhibition is over, Cole will go to his hometown – Derry, Ireland- which was named City of Culture 2013. Luckily he was chosen to show his exhibition there and he has a plan to show his long years of collection over the many countries he visited. He says Ethiopia will be definitely one of the countries which will be represented.

“Ethiopia is one of the countries with a diversified population and culture. Sometimes the center being us or western countries we forget Ethiopia which has a huge amount of offering in terms of learning and education to the rest of the world.”

The exhibition will remain open until November 12.

EthiopianReporter