Who is Dereje Shiferaw?

Dereje Shiferaw is an Ethiopian artist based in Addis Ababa who we have the honour of representing him in Malta.
You could read his biography here but should you like to know more, check out these questions and answers below:

1. How did you get into the arts?
   In my childhood I didn’t have formal lessons or a teacher to guide me but I had the most profound mother nature.
   Art became my language and although it was not planned, it was a calling I followed since i could hold a pencil.
2. Who is your biggest inspiration and why?
   Rather than ‘who’ I would say my biggest inspirations are nature, politics, human beings in general and current affairs.
   I believe that nature represents life, beauty and resilience whilst politics reflects systems of power, change and struggles of society to achieve a balance in justice. Also humanity encapsulates the complexity of emotions in the human condition. I want to find the balance between these various themes through my work.
3. Who is your biggest artistic inspiration and why?
   Music in general greatly inspires me because it evokes a wide range of feelings- from joy and love to sadness and hope. These emotions can fuel my creativity and influence the tone of my work and the rhythms and beats in music can inspire me to create dynamic lines, patterns or compositions in my work.
4. Which artwork would you like to have on your walls/ in your house and why?

I would love to have to have a Jean-Michel Basquiat painting on my wall because his work speaks to me on so many levels. I find Basquiat’s art raw, bold and honest.

5. What is your favourite medium?
My favourite mediums are both watercolours and acrylics. Through the delicate transitions and layers of watercolours, I can express emotions and the human experiences vividly. Acrylics can also create rich textures and vibrant landscapes capturing nature’s energy the bold colour and dynamic layering of acrylics can evoke messages or emotions.

6. What is one thing noone knows about you?
Well, I have the ability to work with both my left and right hands and this could represent the balance, adaptability and duality in life- being left and right or logical and collective.

7. What music do you play whilst you paint?
I dance whilst I paint, at times.

8. Your favourite country that you have ever lived at or visited?
It would be my country Ethiopia because Ethiopia is not just my home- it’s my inspiration being a country of breathtaking landscapes, rich history and vibrant cultures.  The highlands, the great Rift valley, the coffee, the forests and the ancient sites like Lalibela and Axume all tell stories that fuel my creativity.