Artists united by their intimate connection to matter, by the expression of their world through the color black, and by their love of texture. As sculptors of silhouettes, Reinata Sadimba and Tiemar Tegene engrave, carve, and shape their figures until they come to life—a life breathed into them by texture rather than by background. A life written from a feminine perspective. They explore phases of existence or the emotions their subjects experience: love, grief, or even discord.
The cosmos and its beings lie at the heart of their creation. With a focus on the human experience, Sadimba’s artistic world features a wide range of poses; meanwhile, through the use of textures and patterns, Tegene imbues her works with a material depth and an almost telluric power. Both artists also share a preference for grays and blacks. These are the only colors Sadimba allows herself to use on her ceramics beyond the natural terracotta, and she achieves this through the use of minerals: lime and graphite. As for the role that community plays in the work of both artists, it is significant. Tegene focuses on emotions with which viewers can identify, such as grief, while Sadimba creates collective scenes. For Tegene, the individual experience serves as a gateway to a more universal experience: the figures depicted evoke emotional states that everyone can recognize. For Sadimba, on the other hand, the community manifests itself directly through the presence of groups, bodies, or even gathered heads, and through scenes that highlight the relationships between individuals.