Birhane Worede: Gestures of Presence : Circle Art Gallery One
Gestures of Presence brings together works inspired by the quiet moments that shape our everyday lives. Worede is drawn to subtle gestures: the tilt of a head, the way hands rest in a lap, the posture of someone lost in thought or simply at ease. Having spent years sketching people around him, he has come to see gesture as a more truthful expression of emotion than facial expression alone. These small movements leave space for viewers to recognise something of themselves.
Many of the figures in this exhibition are resting. Worede believes that artists often paint what they long for, and these moments of stillness reflect his own desire for quiet. Growing up in Addis Ababa's bustling Merkato district, he was surrounded by constant noise and activity, fostering a lasting desire for calm. The paintings also speak to a longing for genuine closeness, for shared physical space, affection and close attention in an age increasingly defined by digital distraction.
This exhibition builds on ideas first explored in Worede's 2022 series Screen World, which examined the paradox of being perpetually connected through technology while becoming increasingly disconnected from those around us. Over time, however, Worede realised that viewers focused more on facial expressions than on the message in the works.
In response, he transformed his technique, deliberately reducing facial detail and adopting loose washes and gestural brushwork. He did so to encourage viewers to linger on the ‘essence’ of each painting rather than its realism.
An unexpected moment further shaped his technique. While painting a man asleep outside his apartment building, Worede was caught in sudden rain and rushed the unfinished work indoors. As it dried, the water left delicate marks across the surface. Rather than correcting them, he embraced the effect, incorporating these fluid textures into his paintings alongside his expressive brushwork.
Throughout the exhibition, colour plays an equally important role. For Worede, experimenting with colour and technique is itself a form of meditation. This is especially evident in Escape to the Jungle, one of the artist's favourite works in the exhibition. Inspired by a pilgrimage to a remote rural area without mobile network coverage, the painting recalls the freedom of being temporarily disconnected. Worede found himself fully present in his surroundings, noticing countless variations of green in the landscape and experiencing a profound sense of peace.
Although rooted in his own experiences, Worede is often surprised by the deeply personal responses his paintings evoke, reminding him that artworks can extend far beyond their maker's intentions.
In Gestures of Presence, the artist invites us to notice what is easily overlooked: the quiet language of the body, the comfort of shared space, and the value of mindfulness. These paintings offer a gentle reminder that presence is not merely physical, it is the act of connecting with ourselves, with others, and with the world around us.
Biography
Worede earned his BFA with honours from the Alle School of Fine Arts in 2021 and completed a Master of Fine Art at the same institution in 2026. His work has been exhibited locally and internationally, including in Addis Ababa, Memphis, London, Johannesburg and Cape Town.
He has had dual exhibitions at Montague Contemporary, New York (2026) and Chilli Art Projects, London (2024). Select group exhibitions include New Visions at Circle Art Gallery, Nairobi (2025) and Chilli Art Projects, London (2023). Art fairs include Africa Basel with Circle Art Gallery (2026) and Latitudes with Chilli Art Projects (2024). In 2026, he completed the Kwacakworo Artist Residency in Davos, Switzerland.
Birhane Worede (Ethiopian, b. 1998), Lives and works in Addis Ababa
Gestures of Presence brings together works inspired by the quiet moments that shape our everyday lives. Worede is drawn to subtle gestures: the tilt of a head, the way hands rest in a lap, the posture of someone lost in thought or simply at ease. Having spent years sketching people around him, he has come to see gesture as a more truthful expression of emotion than facial expression alone. These small movements leave space for viewers to recognise something of themselves.
Many of the figures in this exhibition are resting. Worede believes that artists often paint what they long for, and these moments of stillness reflect his own desire for quiet. Growing up in Addis Ababa's bustling Merkato district, he was surrounded by constant noise and activity, fostering a lasting desire for calm. The paintings also speak to a longing for genuine closeness, for shared physical space, affection and close attention in an age increasingly defined by digital distraction.
This exhibition builds on ideas first explored in Worede's 2022 series Screen World, which examined the paradox of being perpetually connected through technology while becoming increasingly disconnected from those around us. Over time, however, Worede realised that viewers focused more on facial expressions than on the message in the works.
In response, he transformed his technique, deliberately reducing facial detail and adopting loose washes and gestural brushwork. He did so to encourage viewers to linger on the ‘essence’ of each painting rather than its realism.
An unexpected moment further shaped his technique. While painting a man asleep outside his apartment building, Worede was caught in sudden rain and rushed the unfinished work indoors. As it dried, the water left delicate marks across the surface. Rather than correcting them, he embraced the effect, incorporating these fluid textures into his paintings alongside his expressive brushwork.
Throughout the exhibition, colour plays an equally important role. For Worede, experimenting with colour and technique is itself a form of meditation. This is especially evident in Escape to the Jungle, one of the artist's favourite works in the exhibition. Inspired by a pilgrimage to a remote rural area without mobile network coverage, the painting recalls the freedom of being temporarily disconnected. Worede found himself fully present in his surroundings, noticing countless variations of green in the landscape and experiencing a profound sense of peace.
Although rooted in his own experiences, Worede is often surprised by the deeply personal responses his paintings evoke, reminding him that artworks can extend far beyond their maker's intentions.
In Gestures of Presence, the artist invites us to notice what is easily overlooked: the quiet language of the body, the comfort of shared space, and the value of mindfulness. These paintings offer a gentle reminder that presence is not merely physical, it is the act of connecting with ourselves, with others, and with the world around us.
Biography
Worede earned his BFA with honours from the Alle School of Fine Arts in 2021 and completed a Master of Fine Art at the same institution in 2026. His work has been exhibited locally and internationally, including in Addis Ababa, Memphis, London, Johannesburg and Cape Town.
He has had dual exhibitions at Montague Contemporary, New York (2026) and Chilli Art Projects, London (2024). Select group exhibitions include New Visions at Circle Art Gallery, Nairobi (2025) and Chilli Art Projects, London (2023).
Art fairs include Africa Basel with Circle Art Gallery (2026) and Latitudes with Chilli Art Projects (2024). In 2026, he completed the Kwacakworo Artist Residency in Davos, Switzerland.
