Ca’ del Duca 3052, Corte del Duca Sforza
San Marco, 30124, Venezia, Italy
Tue – Sat 10am – 6pm
Ethiopian artist Michael Hailu has established himself as a powerful voice in contemporary African art, using his multidisciplinary practice to challenge political structures, societal norms, and traditional narratives. Born in 1999, Hailu graduated from the Ale School of Fine Arts at Addis Ababa University in 2022 and is currently studying at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna, Austria, under a prestigious scholarship. His work spans mixed media, photography, video, and installation, each medium chosen to best express his philosophical inquiries and artistic vision.
17 March 2025
Related artist
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The Art of Questioning Power and Identity
Hailu’s work critically examines Ethiopian politics, particularly the ideological homogeneity of its parliament despite the country’s ethnic diversity. He questions how power structures function and reflect—or fail to reflect—the true voices of the people. His 2024 solo exhibition at AKKA Project Venice, Silence the Gun, explored these themes, offering an incisive critique of conflict, governance, and identity.Beyond political discourse, Hailu also challenges traditional gender roles. Declaring himself his own muse, he frequently paints himself in female postures and figures, exploring the constructs of masculinity and femininity. Inspired by Greek mythology, he employs gold backgrounds for women and silver for men, referencing the myth of Pandora and reversing the narrative that undermines women’s societal positions. Through this visual language, he seeks to dismantle ingrained gender hierarchies and encourage new perspectives on identity and equality. -
Silence the Guns (selection of works)
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FOWSKOW MOMENTS: A CELEBRATION OF COMMUNITY AND INTERCONNECTEDNESS
Hailu’s exhibition at AKKA Project in Venice, Fowskow Moments, marks a shift in his exploration—from systemic critiques to a deeply personal reflection on identity and community. The term “Fowskow” originates from his childhood, where it was more than just a name; it was a shared identity among the children in his neighborhood. Whenever someone called out “Fowskow,” it signified a collective response, a bond of unity and mutual support. This philosophy of togetherness, akin to the African concept of Ubuntu—"I am because we are"—is at the heart of Hailu’s latest body of work.Through this series, he reflects on how his Ethiopian roots and his experience living in Vienna have shaped his artistic perspective. He sees his work as a bridge between worlds, illustrating the ways in which identity is fluid and ever-evolving. His paintings explore the tension between individualism and collectivism, the personal and the universal, and the past and present. Themes of duality—light and dark, joy and sorrow, war and peace—continue to permeate his work, offering viewers an opportunity to reflect on the complexities of human existence. -
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Artworks Selection
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Michael Hailu, Handwashing
Michael Hailu, Handwashing
Performance