Gedewon Makonnen, called Gedewon (1939–1995), was an Ethiopian artist.
Born in
Begemder
Begemder ( amh, በጌምድር; also known as Gondar or Gonder, alternative name borrowed from its 20th century capital Gondar) was a province in northwest Ethiopia.
Etymology
A plausible source for the name ''Bega'' is that the word means " ...
, Gedewon trained as a
cleric
Clergy are formal leaders within established religions. Their roles and functions vary in different religious traditions, but usually involve presiding over specific rituals and teaching their religion's doctrines and practices. Some of the ter ...
in the
Ethiopian Orthodox Church
The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church ( am, የኢትዮጵያ ኦርቶዶክስ ተዋሕዶ ቤተ ክርስቲያን, ''Yäityop'ya ortodoks täwahedo bétäkrestyan'') is the largest of the Oriental Orthodox Churches. One of the few Chris ...
. As part of his training, he learned to draw
talisman
A talisman is any object ascribed with religious or magical powers intended to protect, heal, or harm individuals for whom they are made. Talismans are often portable objects carried on someone in a variety of ways, but can also be installed perm ...
s, which soon became much sought-after among Western collectors. Some of his drawings are now in
The Contemporary African Art Collection (CAAC)
The Contemporary African Art Collection (CAAC) is a private collection created in 1989 by Jean Pigozzi, an Italian businessman. As of May 2022, the collection was based in Geneva, Switzerland, but it "does not have a permanent exhibition venue".
...
of
Jean Pigozzi
Jean "Johnny" Pigozzi (born 1952), heir to the CEO of the automobile brand Simca, is an art collector, photographer, fashion designer and . He lives in Geneva.
Biography
Pigozzi is a "French-born Italian". He was born in Paris in 1952 and is ...
. He died in
Därtähal in 1995.
Exhibitions
*2005 Arts of Africa, Grimaldi Forum, Monaco, France
*2005 African Art Now : Masterpieces from the Jean Pigozzi Collection, Museum of Fine Art Houston, USA
*2003 – 2004 Vernacular Visionaries: International Outsider Art in Context, Museum of International Folk Art, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
*2002 Art that Heals, Apex Art, New York, USA
*2001 Dessins Choisis, Forum Culturel de Blanc-Mesnil, Le Blanc-Mesnil, France
*2001 Working in the Spirit : Gedewon and Vyakul, Cavin-Morris Gallery, New York, USA
*2000 Partage d’Exotismes, La Halle Tony Garnier, Lyon, France
*1998 Africa, Africa : A vibrant Art from a Dynamic Continent, Tobu Museum of Art, Tokyo, Japan
References
Biographical sketchThe Contemporary African Art Collection
1939 births
1995 deaths
Ethiopian artists
{{Ethiopia-artist-stub