ELIAS SIME
Eregata እርጋታ
Experience the extraordinary craftsmanship of one of Ethiopia's leading contemporary artists.
This spring, multi-disciplinary artist Elias Sime comes to Hastings with his first major solo show in Europe.
Elias’s work has been shown around the world and will feature prominently at the 2024 Venice Biennale. His approach to both life and art, epitomised by Eregata እርጋታ, feel vital in the present moment.
Elias deftly weaves, layers and assembles carefully selected everyday materials, transforming commonplace items into lyrical abstract compositions. He often creates intricate works from electronic components – including circuit boards, computer keys, wires and megaphones.
‘Each material I collect has its own story, and has been touched by many hands. It has its own language. All the different stories related to the material move me, and I transform these intuitive reactions into my compositions.’ Elias Sime
The exhibition will focus on the past decade of Elias’s career with over 20 works on display, including his landmark series Tightrope (2009-present) and the ceramic installation Bareness (2014), made up of 192 clay vessels.
The exhibition’s title Eregata እርጋታ emerges from the artist’s language, Amharic, and is translated by Elias to the English word serene. For Elias, eregata reflects a recognition that our minds are never truly still or silent: ‘we struggle to stop and sleep because our brains are constantly stimulated by technology – we are constantly moving faster not slower.‘ Elias’s work flows against this tide, embracing a notion of slowness – ‘My art is slowing it down. The work forces me to slow down’ – as he takes years to transform carefully sourced materials to explore local and global issues around sustainability, materiality and the impact of technology.
Elias Sime: Eregata እርጋታ originated at Arnolfini, UK, and is a collaboration with Hastings Contemporary and Kunstpalast Düsseldorf, Germany.
Coordinated by Artist Management: Southern & Partners. Supported by Batia and Idan Ofer. With thanks to James Cohan Gallery.
This exhibition has been made possible as a result of the Government Indemnity Scheme. Hastings Contemporary would like to thank HM Government for providing Government Indemnity and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and Arts Council England for arranging the indemnity.
Press
Download the press release here.
Main image: Elias Sime, TIGHTROPE: Behind the Processor #6, 2022. Courtesy the Artist and GRIMM and James Cohan Gallery. Photo Jonathan de Waart.
