Symphony in the Streets of Addis- Photos of Eyerusalem Adugna Jiregna

From May 23 to June 9, 2024 in the Photobastei Zurich, www.photobastei.ch
Opening on May 23, 2024 at 18.00 in the presence of the photographer

 

Eyerusalem A. Jiregna, born in Addis Ababa in 1993, studied in Ethiopia and the USA and has been living and working as a photographer and fashion designer in Adis Ababa for almost 10 years.

Drawing on her experience in the design sector, she uses her photography to document the vibrant everyday reality of the country's inhabitants. Her specialty is atmospheric and sensitive portraits that are characterized by a brilliant variety of colors and textures.

Eyerusalem A. Jiregna writes about her pictures: "Despite the struggle for survival in Addis Ababa, there is a beauty and vibrancy that brings joy to the residents. Taken over a period of seven years, the photographs in this exhibition show working class people in the midst of everyday life. The city is easily recognizable through the subtle choice of framing and colors. The strong, sunny lighting contrasts the dirty and bleak surroundings in these symmetrical square frames. The staccato of modern life is captured by the lines and rhythms that cut through these images." Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

The photographer became internationally renowned in 2017 with her pictures of women in Harar, a Muslim city in the east of the country. The women wear strikingly colorful dresses, a contrast to the often dark hijabs and burqas they normally wear. The city itself also shines in all colors, with turquoise walls, red front doors and yellow shutters.

Her photos have been shown at various photo festivals and exhibited in galleries and have been printed in The Guardian, The New York Times and various African newspapers, among others.