[Artwork Spotlight]: Aida Muluneh’s Striking “Conquest”

Our Artwork Spotlight today focuses on the work of Ethiopian photographer Aida Muluneh. “Conquest,” from her 2014 series “The Wolf You Feed,” is a visually striking and beautifully colorful piece. The photograph features a frontal portrait of a subject whose face is entirely painted blue, with a vertical line of black dots running from the forehead to the chin. A black hand adorned with white dots partially covers the subject’s forehead, while a red hand firmly grasps their chin. This composition is not merely photographed but carefully staged, adding a performative dimension to the artwork.

The body painting in this piece references ancient practices of body art found in various parts of Africa, where dots play a significant role in traditional body decoration. This tradition of facial painting is also present among the Maori people of Australia, highlighting a global connection to ritualistic and cultural practices.

The subject’s blue face can symbolize tranquility and spiritual depth, while the black hand with its white dots creates a powerful contrast, evoking mystery and protective or oppressive influence. The red hand, with its vibrant color, symbolizes passion, life, and energy. Together, these elements create a work that is both beautiful, colorful, and striking.

Born in Addis Ababa and having lived in the United States, Aida Muluneh embodies a lineage of African artists whose work is enriched by their encounters and exposure to different cultural spaces. As she moves around and exchanges ideas with other artists, her art negotiates these varied influences.

The artwork explores themes of identity and duality, revealing cultural influences and internal struggles between different aspects of the self. The line of black dots adds a central symmetry, drawing the viewer’s gaze and symbolizing a path or connection between two states of being. The gestures of the hands add a dimension of control and guidance, evoking the external forces that shape our identity.

“Conquest” embodies Muluneh’s reflection on individual choices and the forces at play in shaping our personality and destiny. Her distinctive style, with its vibrant colors and bold compositions, invites the viewer to contemplate the forces that shape our existence. This richly symbolic and performative piece is a testament to the power of art to capture and express the complexities of human identity.

Remi Demi

Art Critic