Text & Film by Jan Eric Huehn

The first time I met Selassie I stumbled inside his studio during an open day at Mahalla, an art and culture space in Berlin. I wasn’t sure whether or not I should stay or leave again. Some people were drilling holes into the wall, others were adjusting lights. In between an abundance of beautiful paintings. If I had asked into the room who the artist was, Selassie would have told me to do what I want. Stay, ask, leave, whatever. He will do his thing anyway. Paint, or whatever comes to his mind.

Two years later I saw his work exhibited at Mahalla during Berlin Art Week (This time in the main hall) and would meet him again at another exhibition just a days later, where he was doing a live painting.
“Why is nobody talking to me?” he asked, stepping away from his painting momentarily. “Probably because they don’t want to disturb you,” I replied before moving on. It wasn’t much later when I asked him if he might be down to join our studio portrait series.

You can follow him on his socials or check join the EIA001 multiverse.

Explore art by Selassie

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