Michael Hailu Ethiopia, b. 1999

Biography

“How does one explore the duties and obligations of an Ethiopian parliament that is ethnically heterogeneous and ideologically homogeneous? How does one examine its success and its realizations? How does the parliament reflect our interest in a political culture that is ethnically polarized? How does one examine the complex political structure of an Ethiopian parliament? The parliament that is homogeneous ideologically and its officials really represent a people which are heterogeneous ideologically. These are the questions that I attempt to critically analyze in my work.”

Micheal Hailu was born in 1999 in Ethiopia and is currently living and working in Vienna, Austria, having been awarded a prestigious scholarship at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna. He graduated from the Ale School of Fine Arts at Addis Ababa University in 2022.

Hailu works across various media, including mixed media, photography, video, and installation. His art often critiques the disingenuity of the Ethiopian parliament, offering a voice to the true feelings and opinions of the people.

Declaring himself his own muse, Hailu frequently paints himself in female postures and figures, reflecting his exploration of social norms and questioning the concept of gender. Through his art, he examines whether gender is a social conditioning or a tradition passed down through generations.

Drawing inspiration from the attributes of French women, he reimagines Ethiopian women as part of a 'golden age,' using gold paint to highlight their presence, while contrasting them with men painted against silver backgrounds to express the dominance of masculinity in the world.

In other works, Hailu explores themes of war and peace, critically questioning the vitality and justification of war. His art is often performative, challenging the boundaries of conventional artistic expression.

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