Description
Acrylic on canvas, Dereje Shiferaw (Ethiopian, born 1976)
Between the Line of Silence, 2025
100 x 100 cm
In Between the Line of Silence, Dereje Shiferaw explores the subtle interplay between presence and absence through a layered composition of expressive marks, fragmented forms and delicate traces. Predominantly rendered in soft whites, pale greys and muted neutrals, the painting is punctuated by unexpected fields of blue, green, burgundy and red, emerging from the surface like fragments of memories or glimpses of something partially concealed.
Fine lines, scratched marks and areas of erasure weave through the composition, creating a sense of accumulated history. Some gestures appear almost like fragments of handwriting, traces of thoughts or remnants of messages that remain just beyond interpretation. These delicate interventions contrast with the more substantial blocks of colour, establishing a tension between what is revealed and what remains hidden.
The layered surface evokes the passage of time, where memories overlap, fade and resurface without ever forming a complete narrative. Rather than offering clear answers, Between the Line of Silence invites the viewer to pause and explore the spaces between its marks, discovering meaning in what is suggested rather than explicitly expressed.
Through its restrained palette and intricate interplay of texture and gesture, the work becomes a meditation on memory, absence and the quiet complexity of unspoken emotions, reminding us that silence is not necessarily empty, but can hold stories that words cannot fully convey.
Signed ‘Dereje (front)
Provenance: Direct from the artist
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