The Nature of Alienness

I have often wondered about this strange notion of the word displacement and space—what it means in the context of who I am as a person and as an artist. Obviously there is an interest and curiosity to know how artists express ideas about life when they move from place to place or, in my case, from continent to continent. What is interesting about the whole notion of displacement is its psychological dimension of perception and reality. It demands a dialogue with oneself and occasionally with those who are curious to know the nature of alienness.

For several years I carried a green card that identified me as an alien resident. I struggled with the notion of this word alien for a while, for I came with a passport that clearly identified me as an Ethiopian and ascertained my belonging to a place, a culture, and a people. By that it further recognized that which made up the nuances of who I was and suddenly I question and the green card questioned who I am.

Suddenly one is confronted with the question 'What does this mean?'. So one becomes in need of a comfort zone and engages in searching both within and without for things familiar—both material and cultural. This is natural and acceptable by all groups who have come to the U.S. by ship or the jet.

My foundation, then as well as now, is made up of an environment that nurtured my development as a person and as an artist. It has provided me with a capacity to learn, adopt and be a contributing citizen wherever I may be in time and space. As an artist I am fortunate to have a strong sense of who I am as an African, Ethiopian, and American, but most importantly I come from a place where man originated—the Land of Dinkinash.

In my work I have tried to address issues of displacement due to man made war or famine or migration caused by political persecution in Ethiopia and Africa and at large—works in a series called Journey to the Unknown, for an example. Far from Home is not only timely but long overdue as it addresses issues via creative responses by artists who have shared personal and global experiences that are equally universal. This is a wonderful beginning as the NCMA is making progress towards a newer and enviable position in its aggressive experientially rewarding programs of exhibitions and other alternative services to its members, patrons, and the citizen of North Carolina.

—Achamyeleh Debela, Artist, featured in Far from Home; Professor of Art, North Carolina Central University