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 Born
on December 5, 1962 in Asmara
1977, joined the Eritrean Peoples Liberation Front (EPLF)
1978-1981, took three years training in Fine Art at the EPLF Cultural
establishment Since 1982 has several group and solo exhibitions in
Eritrea, Europe, East and South Africa, USA, Middle East Singapore and
Japan.
Lives in Asmara where he works as a professional and full time artist.
Prizes Won five national painting
competitions;
1985 – 1st
prize
1986 – 1st prize
1987 – 2nd prize
1993 – 1st prize
2002 – Raimok award (The highest National prize given to artist)
Exhibitions:
Eritrea (Solo and group
exhibition, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1998, 1999. 2004
Ethiopian (Solo exhibition 1993, National Museum of Ethiopia)
Sudan (Group exhibition 1987, organized by the EPLF)
Italy (Group exhibition 1998, organized by the EPLF)
USA and several European countries (Group exhibition 1989,
1990,1991 organized by the EPLF)
Singapore (Group exhibition 1996, sponsored by National Arts
Council of Singapore)
UK (Artist of Africa, Poster exhibition 1996, organized by the
British Council)
Dubai ( Caricature: “ An Art for all people”, Group exhibition
2000)
Kuwait (Group exhibition 2000)
Abu Dhabi (Group exhibition 2002, sponsored by Cultural
Foundation – Abu Dhabi)
Johannesburg (Solo exhibition – Earth Summit 2002)
Japan (Solo exhibition – Nature’s Wisdom 2005)
Sweden (Group exhibition – Festival Eritrea in Stockholm 2007)
Collections:
National Museum of Eritrea, Hotel Intercontinental Asmara, Seaphire
International USA, National Insurance Corporation of Eritrea, Read Sea
Trading Corporation, National Confederation of Eritrean Workers, Denden
Club-Asmara, Hager Media Hall, Asmara Municipality Hall and other
private owners in Eritrea, Germany, UK, USA, Norway, Sweden etc.
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Michael Adonai is an eminent visual
artist (painter) in Eritrea. I have known him since he started painting
and have witnessed quick and steady progress. Michael is largely a
self-taught painter with admirably high aesthetic taste and very fine
strokes.
His early works mainly reflect his experience as a freedom fighter and
portray the plights, hopes, aspirations and fortitude of the Eritrean
people during difficult times. Recently, Michael has been engaged in
evolving his own style in art, based on the traditional painting in
Eritrea known as Coptic art.
I have always appreciated his art for the elegant combination of ideas
and color harmony, a manifestation of his envied talent. The various
prizes he was awarded are a testimony to his quality as an artist. No
wonder, Michael Adonai has been selected by an international jury to
represent Eritrea in the U.N. sponsored Global Art Exhibition.
Solomon Tsehaye
Poet / writer |
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