Gavin Doran

Introducing 𝐀𝐛𝐲𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐧: Our new collection premiering at the @ToledoMuseum. Abyssinian Queen is Yatreda’s first museum presentation and is a big moment in our journey. My sister and I were inspired by the oral history from our childhood growing up in the Ethiopian countryside. A folktale we heard as kids became a sketch. That sketch became a production with historical artifacts with handcrafted props created by our family collective. The production became a series of final motion portrait artworks. The Abyssinian Queen, played by our cousin Yayu, is not based on a specific historical person, but is brought to life by gathering together collective memory across Ethiopia’s rich history. She is on a journey from one kingdom to another, traveling through the mystical forest in between borders. She is carried on a throne of fresh grass, which is a symbol of fertility and renewal in Ethiopia. It is about our grand past but also our potential for future rebirth. Abyssinian Queen is featured as part of our 𝐻𝑜𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑌𝑎𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑑𝑎 installation at the Toledo Museum of Art, brought to life during our residency this year. Just this afternoon, I took a final walk through the 𝐸𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑜𝑝𝑖𝑎 𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐶𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑠𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑑𝑠 exhibition in the Toledo Museum of Art. Everything was hung, and lighting was being finalized. I walked past ancient artworks from my country: crosses, manuscripts, and other historical artifacts, some of which are 1700 years old. Then, there is the section of living history, which are artworks produced by living Ethiopian artists. It fills us with speechless joy to be placed in this historical context between past and present. I want to give all my love to the entire team at the Toledo Museum of Art who valued my country and our unique place at the crossroads of the world. Modern tools continue the legacy of ancient artisans ዘመናዊ መሳሪያዎች የ ጥንታዊውን ጥበብ ታሪክ ያስቀጥላሉ