The installation is called 'Ghebbi', which is Amharic for a fenced area: a 'safe' oasis of peace in a restless city. Ghebbis are a common feature of houses, schools, churches and other buildings in the Ethiopian capital, and often enclose a serene green space. But Ghebbis are increasingly under threat from encroaching highrises. AD-WO's installation explores this fact.
As AD-WO, Jen Wood and Emanuel Admassu focus on art and architecture. In the TextielLab, they worked with Marjan van Oeffelt to develop two woven tapestries measuring six metres wide and three metres high for their installation at the Venice Architecture Biennale. The installation is called ‘Ghebbi’, which is Amharic for a fenced area: a ‘safe’ oasis of peace in a restless city – in this case Addis Ababa, where Admassu comes from. Ghebbis are a common feature of houses, schools, churches and other buildings in the Ethiopian capital, and often enclose a serene green space. But ghebbis are increasingly under threat from encroaching highrises. AD-WO’s installation explores this fact, with the tapestries paying tribute to ghebbis as valuable urban places that are worth preserving. The photos taken by photographer Tsion Haileselassie in Addis Ababa were the starting point for the design. The fabrics depict the lush greenery behind the fences, as well as the blue tarpaulin and scaffolding of the current construction sites.
