Mask is a grassroots collaborative initiative that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic from Robel Temesgen’s studio in Addis Ababa. In response to the urgent need for protective gear and the realities of life on Ethiopia’s densely populated streets, a group of friends and artists came together to produce and distribute handmade face masks. Recognizing that daily survival in Addis Ababa depends on constant social interaction, the project became a modest yet meaningful contribution to public health efforts. As mask-wearing became mandatory in markets, banks, and public transport, the group produced and donated several thousand face masks, supported by a GoFundMe campaign. The project foregrounds solidarity, care, and creative resistance in times of crisis.

Collaborators: Leayne Telahun, Kasahun Hailu, Shimelis Tadesse, Tsedenia Abayneh, Naod Lemma, Tesfaye Bekele, Mamaru Tesfa, and Robel Temesgen.