Nexus
2001
Aluminum mounted on granite wall
365 x 1585 cm. (144 x 624 in.)

Mounted on the Wall of Representation at the Embassy of Ethiopia in Washington, D.C., this collaborative work highlights the intergenerational links among the diaspora community. This aluminum relief sculpture incorporates decorative motifs, patterns and symbols adapted from diverse Ethiopian religious traditions including Christianity, Judaism, Islam and other indigenous spiritual practices. The symbolic scrolls suggest major forms associated with the historic kingdoms of Axum, Gondar and Lalibela. Other forms represent musical instruments, utilitarian tools, and regional flora and fauna. Together, these designs compose a sense of Ethiopian identity and are intended as a balanced juxtaposition of traditional and contemporary Ethiopian aesthetics.