In Adbar I explore the living relationship between spirituality, nature, and community. Rooted in Ethiopia’s long-standing traditions, Adbar refers to the spirits believed to inhabit trees, lakes, and rocks — sacred places that serve as sites of gathering and collective protection. Through years of research and engagement with localities, I listened to stories, attended rituals, and traced how these practices shape public and spiritual life. The resulting paintings reimagine these landscapes as luminous, inhabited terrains, spaces where the visible and invisible coexist.

The series ranges from small 20 x 20 cm works to large 12-meter scrolls rendered in enamel, nail polish, and acrylic on paper. During exhibitions, the works are often accompanied by frankincense-burning rituals that fill the space with scent, creating a multisensory experience. The vibrant light and color in these paintings transform air, land, and water into fluid states of energy and memory, evoking the Adbar as both a spiritual presence and a communal force that continues to shape secular life.