About Etiye Dimma Poulsen

‍

Unique sculpture by Etiye Dimma Poulsen

Etiyé Dimma Poulsen was born in Ethiopia. After the untimely death of her mother she left the country and eventually ended up in Denmark, where she was adopted by her foster parents, hence the name “Poulsen”. Etiyé Dimma Poulsen studied art history.

Etiyé Dimma Poulsen makes her art starting from the material act of handicraft, of handling matter.

Her inspiration comes from traditional statues or tribal styles but with her own feelings and memories worked into them

Etiyé Dimma Poulsen first makes an iron mesh of my statues. Then she put clay on it. The next step is painting the clay and then the whole thing goes in the oven and that is exactly the moment where chance takes over. ...Instead of making it is more like growing . It is always magic: the meeting of the elements earth and fire. Etiyé Dimma Poulsen finally discovers these new creatures from the dust.

Since 1990, Etiyé Dimma Poulsen has done individual exhibitions in Denmark, France, the USA, Côte d'Ivoire, Cameroon and Switzerland. Then, starting in 1992, she started doing group shows in Spain, Palma de Mallorca, Belgium, United States, and France.

Poulsen's work is in the collection of the National Museum of African History, Washington DC.

Born in 1968 in Ethiopia. Lives and works in Antwerp, Belgium.

‍

‍