Creativity is a two-way process, and the internet makes it a global conversation – Selamawit Alene

This art gallery shows how the creative journey takes place within oneself and by engaging with the outside world – with ecommerce opening up new avenues for artists as well. 

PhotoSparks is a weekly feature from YourStory, with photographs that celebrate the spirit of creativity and innovation. In the earlier 180 posts, we featured an art festival, cartoon gallery. world music festival, telecom expo, millets fair, climate change expo, wildlife conference, startup festival, Diwali rangoli, and jazz festival.

My travels this month brought me again to Ethiopia for the annual Innovation Africa Digital Summit. Discussions on digital content and infrastructure regulation alternated with visits to local art galleries and music venues.

St. George Gallery was opened in Addis Ababa in 1990, and reflects Ethiopia’s rich culture and heritage. “Creativity is a two-way process,” said curator Selamawit Alene, in a chat with YourStory (see my earlier photo essay here).

“Artists need to explore the creativity within themselves, as well as expose themselves to the works of other artists from their own countries and overseas,” she advises. Artists need to learn from others while also sharing their own journey with the broader artistic and viewer community.

Art is dialogue, according to Selamawit, and the digital medium promotes this conversation on a global scale. Her gallery also leverages e-commerce to sell art works to customers around the world.

This edition of PhotoSparks features some of the contemporary and traditional art work at the St. George Gallery and other exhibition spaces in Addis; more works will be featured in Part II of this photo essay tomorrow.

Now what have you done today to explore new fountains of creativity within yourself?

Got a creative photograph to share? Email us at [email protected]!

See also the YourStory pocketbook ‘Proverbs and Quotes for Entrepreneurs: A World of Inspiration for Startups,’ accessible as apps for Apple and Android devices.