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ERITREAN artist Michael Adonai says he is obligated to tell the world of his country’s situation

In 1977, at the age of 15, Adonai joined the Eritrean People's Liberation Front. Much of his early work centres on his experiences as a "freedom fighter". Now a world-renowned artist, Adonai has won Eritrea's top art

In 1977, at the age of 15, Adonai joined the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front.

Much of his early work centres on his experiences as a “freedom fighter”.

Now a world-renowned artist, Adonai has won Eritrea’s top art prize and exhibited internationally, including at a United Nations-sponsored global art show in New York.

Adonai, who lives in Werribee, is exhibiting prints of his paintings at Altona’s Joel Gallery until Friday.

The originals remain in Eritrea, from where he was forced to flee in November.

“My solo exhibition was supposed to be in January at Federation Square, but the situation back home forced me to leave earlier,” he says.

“I came on November 1 because there was a very bad political situation in Eritrea and someone, a head official from Eritrea, told me to leave the country to save myself.

“I didn’t bring my original work because I ran away from my country because of the political situation.”

Adonai says his country’s culture is his favourite subject matter, but painting about politics is inescapable.

“Some of my paintings are political because I am living in a volatile area of east Africa, so it’s unavoidable for me as an artist and a citizen to express my inner feelings. The situation is really deteriorating.

“We have had this deterioration in Eritrea for this past eight years. We don’t have any free press, elections, no constitution. Even now in Eritrea, there are massive arrests.

“There was also an army mutiny in Eritrea these past two or three months. It was not a successful mutiny because they started to arrest a lot of people and the Eritrea area is known for its cruelty.

“Art for me, it’s my life. That’s my life: whether it’s under this cruel Eritrean regime . . . for me, it’s an obligation.”

Wyndham Council has given Adonai studio space and in return he will pass on his skills.

“I have volunteered to help my community, to teach promising young artists, to share my experiences with them.”

More details: michael adonai.com or 0470 592 548

Source:http://www.maribyrnongweekly.com.au

aseye.asena@gmail.com

Review overview
43 COMMENTS
  • Bekri Mohammed April 11, 2013

    Well done Adonay. You gave that cruel regim a slap on the face like many heroes. Don’t listen to the few stupid eritreans that are trying to put you down. Leaving your beloved country is really painfull, but it is better than to die in Eiraeiro. Now you have the chance to serve Eritrean people. Thank you.

  • Aman April 12, 2013

    It took 20 years for the most prominent artist in Eritrea to realize the reality? Oh sorry, he said ‘We have had this deterioration in Eritrea for this past eight years’. Eight years? You were an elite until “a head official from Eritrea, “told you to leave the country to save your life? Your artistic brushes were as silent as a dead man and you were dancing for the dictators songs and now when your life is at stake you realize that you were wrong? No, you did not say you were wrong. Only the regime is wrong. Ali abdu said the same shit. You were the regime Mr. Adonai and you were instrumental for directly or indirectly for all the atrocities in the nation. Please stop telling non sense and think about bringing your brushes alive for the good of your people – pay back time.

  • simerrr2012 April 12, 2013

    Aman,

    Please inform yourself first before you demonize someone who has been victim of the regime for so long years. This gentle man never been an elite, he was not allowed to leave the country for years , his work were sent and sold in the world without his ok or without his knowledge. His work were shown in the world exhibition without his presence. I can tell you so many things happened to him. For me, he is a very strong man who did not decide to silent like other artist who leave in the free world. Please let we encourage such people instead of accusing them. First let we ask our self what did /Do I do to make a change before we pointing fingers.

    • Aman April 13, 2013

      I may not know all the facts but if one tells me it is only 8 years that the tyrant and his regime committed all these atrocities, then I see something wrong. Give him all the credit for his art works but the statements I read on the report were far from reality. Thanks anyway for the correction.

  • Ahmed Omer April 12, 2013

    Mr.Adonai said or talk about last eight years was bad anyone agree with him but how is before Me Adonai be honest and anything not half half.Median Brrad’s grandson is magicman you was one of his fans and supporters as well as Sharifo,Dorro’e,Ali abdu ,Shanghai ,Abddalla Jabir and a hero Saed Ali Hajai .Mr Adonai you and all mentioned above are heroes ,they said the right and reality in spite of too late after they lose their power ,but others who is flowing the same way with him .Mr Adonai you be brave more and talk about Shabbia’s history like Mr.Tesfai this help our people to be stable Eritrea .
    ما أمان هو الحقيقة ولكن في رأيي اعتبره بطلا لقوله بعض من الحقائق ولكنه غير معفي لخدمته النظام لفترة من الزمن ومليئة بالضحايا اﻻبرياء يكفي سكوتهم هو وغيره عند تصفية الجبهة بداية الثمانينات مستعينين بملس وتنظيمه. السيد أدوناي الم تصفق ذلك اليوم واليوم عندما شعرت بالخوف من السفاح هربت وتحكي حكاوي مبتورة ونرجو منك ان
    تكون منصفا .أنت فنان أي انك ترى وتحس بالأمور من حولك أكثر من غيرك
    .الم تتخيل يوما ورفاق دربك غيبوا زورا وبهتانا .
    ألم تسأل نفسك عن g15 المغيبة بتهمة الخيانة العظمىوهم الذين اعطوا كل عمرهم الشعبية على كل حال شئ أفضل من لا شئ أفضل ..لا شئ أسوأ من ان تسكت على باطل

    • Embasorya The Mighty April 12, 2013

      It is time to talk about the crimes of jihadists in Eritrea.

      • Genet April 12, 2013

        Emba
        You looking at it and you are supporting it, it is called YPFDJ/PFDJ/Afewerki!
        Genet

    • belay nega April 13, 2013

      AHMED OMER

      “Me Adonai be honest and anything not half half.”

      LET THE HALF BE TOLD BY THE DOG ali abdu

      FOR YOUR INFORMATION MICAEL ADONAY WAS PURE ARTIST WITH A GOOD TALENT

      IF YOU WANT HEAR LIES REFER TO ALI ABDU WHO REACHED TO MINISTERIAL LEVEL BY LIES

      “Mr Adonai you be brave more and talk about Shabbia’s history like Mr.Tesfai this help our people to be stable Eritrea .”

      YOU ARE WRONG THE HOPELESS HEALTH WISE, AND WITH NO KIDS TO WORRY ABOUT THEIR FUTURE TESFAY TEMNEWO IS WORKING TO DESTABILIZE ERITREA

    • EritreaHurra April 13, 2013

      U wanna talk about honesty and ‘half half’ go tel that to the coward Ali abdu who defected long time ago but he is still silent and not speaking honestly and truhfully

  • Genet April 12, 2013

    MR NEGA
    PERSONALITY DISORDER CAUSE IS MULTIFACTORIAL. YOUR SYMPTOMS APPERARS TO BE SPLIT PERSONALITY OR MULTIPLE PERSONALITY. FROM YOUR WRITING AND HOW YOU EXPRESS YOUR THOUGHTS, PROBABLY YOU ARE SUFFERING FROM SPLIT PERSONALITY. NO ERITREAN WITH A RIGHT MIND WILL SAY “I JUST LIKE TO ACCEPT AND LIVE IN REALITY” WHILE HIS/HER PEOPLE ARE BEING KILLED. THE WAY YOU REPEAT OTHER PEOPLES’ THOUGHTS IN ORDER TO MAKE YOUR POINT, MAY BE THERE IS OCD= OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER IN THE MIX AS WELL. SPLIT PERSONALITY= YOU CONSTANTLY CONTRADICT YOURSELF, YOU THINK YOU ARE ERITREAN. NO, MAY BE ETHIOPIAN, YOU ARE PFDJ, NO, YOU DON’T LIKE TO BE CALLED PFDJ. NOW YOU ARE CONCERND ABOUT OUR PEOPLE IN ERITREA UNDER PFDJ. JUST NONSTOP CONTRADICTIONS. MR NEGA, DON’T GIVE ME WRONG NOTHING PERSONAL JUST OBSERVATION.
    Genet

    • belay nega April 12, 2013

      GHENET

      “MR NEGA, DON’T GIVE ME WRONG NOTHING PERSONAL JUST OBSERVATION.”

      I CAN TELL YOU ARE A GOOD GIRL/LADY FROM THE WAY YOU ADDRESS TO PEOPLE

      BUT LET ME TELL YOU SOME I LIKE ALWAYS STRIKING THE BALANCE WHATEVER THE ISSUE MAY BE

  • Ya Ya April 12, 2013

    An artist with purpose. A writer with rich words and imagery. A poet. An expressionist, impressionist, experimentalist, and realist all in one great mind. Excellent body of work. I had the opportunity to chat with him in his studio around 1999, he left a great impression, and not to mention an aspiration on me.

  • poor bekitai July 23, 2013

    what he decided was right eventually. and i know Michael is a very close friend to Ali Abdu. they had a lions share from the public money while my people was crying out of poverty. eg. wedi adonai painted a simple painting in the building of Zoba Debub administration office and he was paid 300,000.00 nakfas for that single work only. this opportunity was given to him by the lobby of Ali Abdu. the time of festivities is like a harvesting season to people like wedi adonai and ali abdu. they had a chance to accumulate millions for simple artistic works. while the other artists are not paid for what they did, these two blood suckers were absorbing the whole budget. the money they smuggle could demobilize like 0ne thousand families of martyrs. while the kids of martyrs were begging or selling cigarets in the streets , they were stealing with out any sympathy to these disadvantaged for a national cause. zeytegetemu hagerawiyan zimesilu tebelexti!! may God reward them for what they did.

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