Merid Tadesse

Prince Merid Tafesse, prominent Ethiopian fineartist, a direct descendant of the Imperial House
of Solomon & Sheba, is widely known as the Kingof Charcoal for his deep sometimes disturbing,
provocative and unrepentant art. The soft-spoken Congo-locked prodigy with piercing eyes says,
"My passion for charcoal allows me to catch the thoughts passing through my mind before they
drift away." His fearless visual treatise represents the social and political conditions of Africans at
home and abroad and "...human relations with external influences that fight against the truth in
our heart...exploring geopolitics, race and spirituality," according to the prolific painter. A '98
grad of Addis Abeba University School of Fine Art & Design, he flips perceptions of art from Africa
through his plethora shades of grey, fast and furious networks of lines and fresh free flowing
brush strokes.Recently, Merid discovered his precise royal lineage tucked away in a family map on the last page of

Emperor Haile Selassie's 1972 autobiography, "My Life and Ethiopia's Progress", Vol. I. The King of
Charcoal found proof of his royal bloodline, specifically, he is a 6th generation descendant of King
Sahle Selassie from the throne of David. He wants the world to know that identity and heritage
matters, especially in light of negative narratives of Ethiopia and Africa in general. Merid's greater
grandmother is Princess Ayahelushim, 7th child of King Sahle Selassie, whose eldest son was King
Haile Menekot, father of famous Emperor Menelik II. Princess Tenangawork, Emperor Haile Selassie
I's grandmother is also the 5th child of King Sahle. This revelation has impacted Merid, bom in
Ethiopia in 1974 whose intellect was fed by his well-travelled banker father's extensive book
collection. His penchant for painting came from his mother, the Princess who drew as an escape
from the Dergue, the military junta who had the royals and millions of Ethiopians under siege from
'74 to '91. By '94 the aspiring artist joined art school where his skills grew alongside his social
consciousness. Fueled by the Emperor's teachings, moved by Marley's music and prose from Kahlil
Gibran and Oscar Wilde, Merid was selected for his first residency in Jerusalem '99.
The steadily rising multi-lingual artist has exhibited in ATL's MLK Center; Dubai's Bastakiya Art Fair;
Miami's Wynwood Art District; NYC's Damon Dash DD172; Johannesburg's Greatmore Art and
Paris' Alliance Ethio-française Selected Drawings Group Show amongst other shows. Commissions
for Coca Cola, Embassy of Portugal and Red Terror Martyr's Museum; selected works in collections
of noteworthy individuals and institutions, namely MOMA, National Museum of Ethiopia, US
Embassy in Ethiopia, U.N.OHCHR and Dr. Rita Marley are just the start. The international artist's
home and epicenter of his creativity is in Kazanches, the heart of Addis Abeba, diplomatic capital of
Africa. Together with wife his wife and business partner, Creative Consultant, Curator and author,
Dr. Desta Meghoo, they founded DYMDC Children's Art Village in '05 for homeless and vulnerable
youth. Merid says, "Art opens eyes and heals..."
For info contact: DYMC & Assoc. Whatsapp +251.911864677 desta meghoo@yahoo.com

Source
https://fendika.org/prince-merid-tafesse-082020