Artist Abeselom Girmay

Oil painting on Canvas

65 × 60 cm

Hemen’s Story

“My name is Hemen Mulugeta, I’m from Humera, current residing in Mekele General clinic IDP center. I’m an 8th grader at Atse Yohannes School. I have six friends(Arsema, Merhawit, Kisanet, Adonay Naod, and Nati), and two sibilings (Arsema and Emnet). My dad’s name is Mulugeta and my mom’s name is Mebrat. I’m 14 years old, I love going to school but one thing I dislike is playing, I prefer working, My favorite thing to do is wearing my mom’s pajamas, My favorite color is pink. hope through God’s will to return to my home.”

Art Statement

This portrait captures the radiant joy and resilience of Hemen, a child whose laughter defies the hardships of displacement. The golden halo behind her is a symbol of light and dignity, her inner strength shining through despite adversity. Her wide, unrestrained smile tells a story of hope, a reminder that even in the darkest of times, the human spirit remains unbroken.

The black background represents the weight of struggle, but her expression cuts through it like the sun emerging from the night. The striped garment reflects movement, transition, and the search for stability—an echo of the journey faced by many children in the IDP camps of Tigray. This piece is part of Faces of Tigray, an initiative that affirms the worth of displaced children by immortalizing their presence through art. In every brushstroke, we see a testament to survival, and in every color, an invitation to witness their stories with empathy and action.

Artist Biography

Abeselom Girmay is an illustrator from Mekelle. He grew up surrounded by the city’s old stone-walled buildings and narrow streets, which, along with its social and political realities, continue to shape his work. Using ink, pen, and watercolour, he captures everyday life and the thoughts most people keep to themselves—turning complex emotions and ideas into a single drawing. In 2023, he started Urban Sketchers Mekelle, a group dedicated to documenting the city through sketching. He has led three workshops on urban sketching so far, sharing his approach with others. His work has also been published in Meqanit, a book that sheds light on the sexual violence Tigrayan women faced during the war.