BAI

Bekele Alemu II

a coffee farm in the Ethiopian highlands

Bekele Alemu II, named after his grandfather, was raised amidst the rustling coffee leaves and whispering trees of his family's farm. From a young age, he was taught to appreciate the subtle nuances of nature, understanding how the forest's health was intertwined with the family's livelihood. Over decades, he watched climate change alter the rhythm he once knew, and he began to capture these shifts in art that must be viewed from a singular, contemplative vantage point.

Tense Art

About

Obsession

The fleeting scent of soil after rain

Voice

Earth breathing after a downpour

Artistic Medium

Olfactory visual dioramas

Technique

Steeping organic elements

Influences

His grandfather's stories, Ethiopian rain, forgotten footpaths

Materials

Freshly turned earth, decayed leaves, carved wood fragments

Scale

Enclosed wooden shadow boxes

Selected 1 time · Last: October 05, 2026

Commissioned Works

"Tension and Transformation"

October 05, 2026 · tense

"Whispering Shadows"

October 05, 2026 · tense