Minas Sanim
2022
Minas is a self taught multidisciplinary artist from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He is a political science and international relations graduate turned artist. After a great deal of soul searching he managed to invest all his time and his resources in to his art. He developed his own artistic style and begun to produce several art works ranging from comic book, paper mosaic and digital art.
His stand out works are his ‘Paper mosaic art works' a technique/ medium he discovered out of necessity, when an oil paint shortage in his country forced him to look for and experiment with alternative mediums.
Minas is interested in celebrating the unique beauty of his country and the beautiful faces of women in conjunction with traditional Ethiopian geometrical patterns.
Notable accomplishments of Minas' artistic career are:
• He published the first historical graphic novel book in Ethiopia. Titled ‘AGGA' is a 146 page book about the adventure and heroic triumph of the great Ethiopian patriot ‘Abdissa Agga’. (Dec, 2019). This book has also been translated in to Serbian language and published in Bosnia and Herzegovina. (2021).
• He is one of the first NFT artists from Ethiopia who sold multiple pieces of his art works. (2022).
• Exhibited some of his paper mosaic art works in Lacuna festival, Lanzarote, Spain. (July 2022).
• He won an art competition to be featured in the art guide of Artrepreneur. (An art gallery in U.S.A). (July 2022).
• 3 of his latest works have been published in the book/ magazine titled ‘PEACE’ vol-1 by ‘No name collective’ (a British art gallery).
Collection title: Ornate
These 5 art works are part of a series I made under the title 'Ornate'. I created them to celebrate the beautiful faces of Ethiopian women in conjunction with traditional Ethiopian geometrical patterns. Both complemented each other, creating beautiful portraitures, therefore, I gave them the title 'Ornate'.
All 5 art works are made with little pieces of paper glued next to each other. This technique is rarely used by artists around the world, let alone in Ethiopia. The technique is called 'Paper mosaic'.
Size of the art works (without frame):
1. Ornate #1………..58cm x 46cm
2. Ornate #2………58cm x 46 cm
3. Ornate #3……….65cm x 50cm
4. Ornate #7……….58cm x 46cm
5. Ornate #8………58cm x 46cm
My art works are focused on celebrating beauty and culture in conjunction, creating harmonious marriage between faces of women and traditional Ethiopian geometrical patterns.
All of my works are made with small pieces of magazine paper glued next to each other. This medium/ technique is called paper mosaic art.
