Kebreab Demeke Berhane

Marxist-Modern is an ongoing artistic exploration of Ethiopia’s political and cultural transformation in the wake of the 1960s Ethiopian Student Movement. Initiated in 2020, this project seeks to unravel the legacies of one of Africa’s most influential student-led political movements. This project is a journey through Ethiopia’s shifting political and social landscape, seen through the eyes of its thinkers, dreamers, and revolutionaries. Organized into thematic chapters, it interrogates the ideological forces that have driven the nation’s transformations—from the dismantling of an ancient monarchy to the socialist experiment, the complexities of ethnic federalism, and the ongoing tensions of the present day. 

MY CONNECTION TO GRORUDDALEN

My connection to the Groruddalen area is the result of both personal circumstances and professional involvement. Since relocating to Veitvet with my wife and son two years ago, the Groruddalen area has been a setting where I have encountered the formative experiences of fatherhood and the responsibilities of family life. As such, the area has come to symbolize more than a place of residence—it has become a space of lived experience and memory. In addition, I work in Økern, which has resulted in my spending the majority of my weekly working hours—over 80%—within Groruddalen. This continuous engagement has enabled me to develop a sustained and intimate relationship with the area, both as a community member and as a creative practitioner.

An important moment in my artistic engagement with Groruddalen occurred in 2021, when I collaborated with the artist Wendimagegn Belete on a public mural project at the Deichman Library in Romsås.

This one-month, site-specific initiative was intensive and immersive, offering me the opportunity to contribute visually to a space that serves a highly diverse local population in Oslo. The mural aimed to reflect the multicultural fabric of the Romsås community by integrating elements of Ethiopian traditional art with global visual references. Equally significant was the process of creating the work in a public setting. The experience of contributing a lasting visual presence to the area has been significant to me.