Kidist was born in Ethiopia in 1969. She signes her paintings Degaffe, to honour her grandfather who fell in the Second Italo-Abyssinian war 1936.
She received her degree in English & Literature in 1992 from Addis Ababa University and worked for a number of years in the tourism industry. She finally followed her call to be a full-time artist and graduated 2005 from the art school run by the renowned artist & sculptor Alem Teklu Kidanu.
Themes, Endurance Art
The plight of women and children, and the hope for a life free from fear and want, are dominant themes of the artist. Since 2006 she engages in the March 8 concept and continues to speak out in her works to stop obstetric fistula. In 2008 she was selected amongst 30 prominent contemporary artists to paint a 100 meters long canvas in Addis Ababa for a campaign against early marriage in Ethiopia, organized by the United Nations.
Arriving in Switzerland in 2009, Degaffe continued her creations, largely in the “endurance” genre which she has adopted early on.
Endurance art shows figurines with only one eye, evoking the look that is turned towards self, and the look of others. Often the figures don’t have ears, meaning that they cannot be heard. Elongated necks and protruding ribs recall the tenacity of people who have survived great famines and other forms of deprivation.
Allegoric representations by wild animals enrich the narrations about her subjects.
The art of Degaffe is a tribute to the universality of humanity, to cultural exchange, migration and integration. Above all, Degaffe’s figures are survivors, who carry their history with pride and resilience. The open look, flowing hair, bright colours, and harmony between people and nature, speak of hope and the beauty of life.
Publications
Interview in Afrique Opinion, April 2022.
Exhibitions
The principal solo exhibitions :
‘Visages’, Association Le Transbordeur, La Seyne sur Mer, France, 2 -16 March 2020
‘Endurance’, Centre Social et Culturel Nelson Mandela, La Seyne sur Mer, France, 22 October - 17 December 2014
‘Une Vision de l’Art au Sud’; Pôle d’Exposition Sud Côte-d’Azur, Toulon, France, December 2011
‘Sous le pinceau, l’émotion’, Galerie du Magasin du Monde, Vevey, Switzerland, 2-26 June 2010
‘Regard de l’Ethiopie’, Galerie Basta !, Lausanne, Switzerland, 19-27 September 2008
‘Cherish their dream’, Degaffesart Studio, Addis Ababa, 24-25 November 2006
‘Portraits and the Principles of the Red Cross’, CICR, Addis Abeba, 12-15 July 2005
‘Reflets du Léman’, Hostellerie Bon Rivage, La Tour-de-Peilz, Suisse, 31 Janvier-13 Septembre 2017
‘Vibrant Figuratif’, Café-Restaurant à la Valsainte, Vevey, Suisse, 29 January-26 February 2016
‘Bons Bex & d’Ethiopie 0016’, Cinema de Bex, le Grand d'Sel, Bex, Suisse, 3 June - August 2016
‘ A walk in paint ’ Hilton Hotel, Addis Abeba, Ethiopie, 25 Novembre 2005
Roving, commented solo exhibition :
‘Traces d’émotions’, Résidence le Châtelet, Attalens, 8 Juillet-12 Octobre 2018 ; Résidence Les Berges du Léman, Vevey, 14 Octobre-3 Novembre 2018; Switzerland
The main exhibitions in pairs :
‘Humanités Africaines’, Centre d’Art le Bosphore, la Seyne sur Mer, France, 1-20 April 2017
‘Revivre Mizuno, artiste Japonais’, Résidence Ambassade du Japon, Addis Abeba, 8 May 2008
‘Connection’, Olympiacos Communauté Grecque, Addis Abeba, 10-14 July 2007
The principal group exhibitions :
'Rebirth – in search of one's identity', Gallery Brülhart, Geneva, 6 November 2021 -29 January 2022
'Egalité', Maison de la Femme Lausanne, Switzerland, 11 November 2021-20 February 2022
'Elles II', Association Sud Fraternité, La Seyne sur Mer, France, 5-13 March 2020
‘Elles I, Maison de l'Habitat, La Seyne sur Mer, France, 7-14 March 2019
LAFF (Lausanne Afro- Fusions Festival), Lausanne, Switzerland, 19-22 July 2018
‘Un cœur pour les vaches et chèvres à cornes’, Altdorf, Switzerland, 1-16 November 2018
'Réflexions autour du voile' , Fondation Pierre Arnaud, Lens, Switzerland 4-29 October 2017
‘Les arts visuels au service du dialogue interculturel' , Casona Latina, Lausanne, 12-26 September 2015
‘Portraits’, Atelier-Galerie ARVA, Vevey, Switzerland, 28 February-19 March 2015
10e Anniv. de l'Association pour la Sauvegarde du Torrent-Neuf, Savièse, Switzerland, 22 August 2015
‘La Paix Universelle’, Atelier-Galerie ARVA, Vevey, Switzerland, 25 January -22 February 2014
Salon du Chocolat, Messe Zürich, 3-6 April 2014
Sélections’, Skoto Gallery, New York, USA, 26 June - 31 July 2010
‘A la manière de Courbet’, Maison Hugonin, La Tour-de-Peilz, Switzerland, 3 October 2010
Art International Zurich, Switzerland, 15-18 September 2009
‘La tête dans les étoiles' Flon Street Painting, Lausanne Flon, Switzerland, 26 September 2009
‘Stop early marriage’, project of UNFPA, painting of 100 meters, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 7-8 March 2008
ArtAir Genève, Salle Communale, Geneva, 7 September 2008
‘Paysages & Portraits’, United Nations Conference Center, Addis Abeba, 12-14 February 2007
‘Images des Couleurs’, Restaurant Buffet de la gare, Addis Abeba, 26-28 June 2007
‘Elle II’, Alliance Ethio-Française Centre Culturel, Addis Abeba, Ethiopia, 8-23 March 2006
‘Women's Day’, UNECA, Addis Abeba, Ethiopia, 8 Mars 2006
‘Nous’, Bureau de Droit de la Femme, Addis Abeba, Ethiopia, 10-11 March, 2006
‘Give the Chance to Children’ Ambassade of Palestine, Addis Abeba, Ethiopia, 11-13 April 2006
‘Cross at Zebras’, Addis Abeba, Ethiopia, 10-17 June 2006
‘Harmonie’, Da_birhan Art Studio, Addis Abeba, 21-24 December 2006
‘The plight of stranded migrants’, Instituto Italiano di Cultura and IOM, Addis Abeba, Ethiopia, December 2005
