WORTHWHILE ART!

These are the most prized works of art displayed at an exhibition at the Sheraton Addis during the first week of September 2009,

along with over 200 paintings by over 30 artists representing three generations. The second exhibition of "Art of Ethiopia 09", sponsored by the Sheraton Addis, exceptionally brought the works of Ale Felege Selam, 85, and Afework Tekle, 77, credited as "fathers of Ethiopian art" by organizer Lulseged Retta, alongside the famous Daniel Taye, 41, and the upcoming Kerima Ahmed. In between were artists of various ages and styles.

"Though the works differ in style and content, the exhibition is a means of showing our unity in diversity," Lulseged says in his note published inside a catalogue still on offer at the Sheraton Addis, for 250 Br. The painting pictured here on top, by Mezgebu Tesemen, 49, trained in Russia, earned the highest price of 110,000 Br, sources told Fortune. It is bought by the Sheraton Addis.

However, the pricey painting displayed at the exhibition was by Afework, pictured on the left here, tagged with a price of over a million Birr, according to reliable sources. It was not sold, though.

The painting depicting a beautiful young woman, pictured here in the right, was by Daniel Taye; it was bought by Dereje Yesuswork (Jambi), a close confident of Sheikh Mohammed Ali Al-Amoudi, for 35,000 Br, sources disclosed.

The artists whose works have been sold have agreed to "contribute portion from the proceeds of their sales towards establishing the Sheraton Art Endowment Fund", according to Jean Pierre Manigoff, general manager of the Sheraton Addis, in his note published in the catalogue.

Source: www.addisfortune.com