Discovering the story behind the artwork at Coya Dubai

However, if you have ever looked around while there, you will have noticed there is more to Coya than first meets the eye. The walls are adorned with numerous fantastic original artworks that help to create this super-cool environment. Have you ever wondered what the story is behind these amazing pieces; why have they been chosen and what inspired the designs? We spoke to the artist behind the restaurant’s latest exhibition to find out more about his story, inspiration, and to discover how Dubai is fast becoming a global hub of the art scene.

Workneh Bezu Kasa grew up in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia and, although encouraged to become a mechanic by his family, followed his passion for art by studying at the Addis Ababa University School of Fine Art and Design under some of the masters of Ethiopian painting and sculpture.

Workneh experiments with different artistic forms, and became one of the pioneers of children’s puppet and short animation film in Ethiopia. In 2001, he established Habesha Art Studio along with other emerging Ethiopian artists. This is where he was discovered by Create Hub, a Dubai based gallery dedicated to the promotion of emerging African Artists and 3D art, and brought to exhibit his works in Dubai.

 

I love to draw about happy things and I feel the relationship between a mother and her child communicates this to the audience. I always intend to give a joyful experience with my work, and I find female characters, especially mothers, really give me inspiration and have become the icons of my paintings.

 

Paintings create lasting impressions in our minds; everything we have learned we save as pictures in our consciousness. Therefore, I would say that our mind can imagine the future based upon things we have already seen, heard or felt. So, in that sense it is very important to communicate happiness through this medium.

 

I envision a better life that is three-dimensional rather than two-dimensional and I always imitate life with my art. In the future, I plan to create 5D art that incorporates different media into its language.

 

I was always taught to use different media and research better and new ways of executing my work. However, the paintings that I am working on right now are double-sided on canvas and plastic, reflecting the transparent material life that I live.

 

Dubai is really growing and expanding when comes to the painting movement, which makes me very happy. It seems there are many art events and exhibitions that take place to celebrate and promote artists and the art scene. I have had a chance to explore some of the museums and art galleries here, facilitated by Create Hub Gallery, which has been an amazing opportunity and I’m very appreciative.

 

Firstly, Dubai is a city where many cultures and races, from Africa and all over the world, come together in harmony, so to encourage global art here is very fitting. Secondly, Dubai also has its own culture, and art is the biggest platform where people can share and learn and understand different ways of thinking. Dubai is fast becoming a centre that celebrates different styles of art and media language.

 

Now that I’m working with Create Hub Gallery, I have many opportunities opening up for me, which means I can work towards my dreams. For example, I have begun to paint in 3D and I shall develop this to extend to five-dimensional artwork in the future. This will enable me to share joy and communicate reality in a better way with the audience going forward.