A Brother's Progress


Art at the Free Space Gallery


An exhibition of artworks by artist Catherine Chambers from the time she lived with the local community at Lalibela in Ethiopia. 

A Brother's Progress echoes William Hogarth's "Rakes Progress" a telling of  fluctuating opportunities with consequent success and some unexpected outcomes.

The narrative here, is told mostly in the resident artist's own words and are just as real as the paintings themselves.

The inspiration came when Catherine spoke to a guy and his life reminded her of William Hogarth.


The Opportunity: Wendmu works long hours in a coffee shop, and looks forward to seeing his girlfriend in the evening. He is befriended by a German tourist who buys him a Tuk-tuk.



The Deal: Wendmu has worked hard and saved some of his profits. As he had been promised, the German loans him more money to buy a taxi. Wendmu will now have to spend nights away from home while driving from town to town.


The Levee: Wendmu and his friends in a local restaurant. A local tailor is displaying clothes for sale. Two friends are offering to run the taxi business for him as driver and broker. One is feeding him by hand, a practice known as Gursha as a sign of affection.



The Bar: Wendmu now spends his new found wealth on drinking and womanising.


The Fall: The German returns to find that Wendmu hasn't saved any money.



The Betrayal: Wendmu finds out that the driver and the broker have been stealing from him.



Khat House: Wendmu now spends more and more time in a Khat house. Seeing the coffee pot reminds him of his beginnings...



Portrait of Yeabara: (Painted in Oil on Gesso board) Yeabara is a girl the artist lived with in Ethiopia. This was on her brother's birthday. She is wearing her special dress. Leaves have been used to decorate the room and the popcorn has been made. The sack behind the chair is full of Tefi, the staple crop Ethiopians use to make injera.



Little boy and girl: A typical village scene.

Catherine Chambers is a passionate and optimistic artist. Her work is attractive and compelling. The vibrant colours are a true impression of Ethiopia. There is an honest and instinctive feel to the artwork on display.

The exhibition runs from 22nd July to 26th August. Mon - Fri 9am - 6:30pm at Freespace Gallery

There is an Open Evening on Friday, August 19th from 6:30pm until 9:30pm 

Freespace Gallery supports health & wellbeing via the arts.

'Bodederek

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