WordPlay: Wosene Worke Kosrof – A Play on Words
Organized by Nakamura Keith Haring Collection
Co-Organized by Symic Holdings Co., Ltd.
Sponsored by All Japan Coffee Association
Wosene Worke Kosrof is one of the most prominent painters representing contemporary African art. His distinctive style combines vivid colors, rhythmic lines, and abstract compositions that incorporate the Amharic script, one of Ethiopia’s primary languages. One of his most notable series, titled WordPlay, focuses on “words” as the central theme. However, the series transcends Amharic alone, reimagining various languages as symbols or pictorial elements. These characters appear on the canvas almost like musical notes. The inspiration behind this lies in jazz greats like Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, and Ella Fitzgerald, as well as contemporary Ethiopian music.
Kosrof’s works invite viewers into an expansive inner landscape, where layers of sound and imagery evoke deeply personal memories. In this exhibition, 21 pieces, including unpublished new works, are presented. By drawing on language, words, music, and everyday experiences, Kosrof’s art transcends cultural and religious boundaries to deeply resonate with the human spirit. The exhibition also explores the expansive possibilities of visual art.
BIOGRAPHY
Wosene Worke Kosrof
Born: 1950, Ethiopia
Residence: San Francisco, USA
Wosene Worke Kosrof is celebrated for his vivid color palette, rhythmic lines, and incorporation of Africa’s traditional visual arts into his style. His art is particularly characterized by the abstract compositions of Amharic script, which he integrates into his works as though they were decorative motifs or musical elements. His inspiration stems from jazz, Ethiopian modern music, and the sights, sounds, and textures of daily life.
Since the 1970s, Kosrof has held numerous exhibitions at museums and galleries across the United States and Europe. In Japan, his solo exhibitions began in 1995 at galleries in Kochi Prefecture. He has also generously supported various organizations, including Ethiopian orphanages, art museums, HIV/AIDS groups, and educational institutions.
INSTALLATION VIEW
FEATURED ARTWORKS
My America Ⅱ, 2015
Ethiopian Calendar, 2014
Sundial, 2016
WordPlay XV, 2013
Words of Memory X, 2015
RELATED EVENTS
Event 1
Workshop: “Write Your Name in Amharic”
Date: November 26, 2017, Sunday
(Hosted on the same day as the 9th International Children’s Drawing Competition Award Ceremony by the Nakamura Keith Haring Collection)
Event 2
Opening Event for WordPlay: Wosene Worke Kosrof – A Play on Words
Gallery Tour by the artist
Date: Sunday, November 26, 2017
