ExhibitionDec 12, 2019-Nov 21, 2020
The 2019 Nobel Peace Prize Exhibition is a portrait of this year´s Peace Prize Laureate PM Abiy Ahmed Ali, and Ethiopia´s ongoing process towards peace and democracy.
The exhibition is a portrait of the Laureate himself, but it is also a close-up on change, hope and challenges in his country. The Prime Minister of Ethiopia was awarded the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize for his reforms in his country and for his efforts to create peace with neighbouring country Eritrea.
Only days after the announcement of this year´s Laureate, award-winning photographer Finbarr O`Reilly traveled to Ethiopia, on assignment by the Nobel Peace Center, to create a series of photographs of the country and the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.
"I had very limited time with the Laureate—just a few minutes to make a handful of portraits. So, I focused on documenting some of the political changes implemented by the Laureate, and how he has positioned himself to lead his country as it heads towards elections scheduled for next year," said O´Reilly when asked about the Nobel-assignment.
O´Reilly has captured some of the women assigned to power in Abiy´s new government and how the changes inflicts the society in Addis Ababa. He has also visited the disputed areas of the North were traces of the conflict with Eritrea still lingers.
In November 2018, Dr. Abiy appointed lawyer and women’s rights activist Meaza Ashenafi as President of the Federal Supreme Court of Ethiopia.
Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa has a thriving photograph scene which is also depicted in one part of the exhibition with photographs captured by Ethiopia´s seven highest ranking photographers, curated by Aida Muluneh. The images show the transition the county has gone through.
A part of the exhibition shows works by Ethiopian photographers from Addis Photo Fest archives, co-curated by Aida Muluneh, Desta for Africa Creative Consulting Plc (DFA).
The Exhibition is supported by the City of Oslo, 5th element group and Canon (print&imaging partner).
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