Girma Berta
“By isolating my figures, it becomes just about them without any distraction.
I love contrasting colors. It expresses the contrasting life I see throughout my photography.”
- Girma Berta
A self-taught photographer, Girma Berta (b. Ethiopia, 1990) is renowned for his vibrant and painterly photographs documenting African cities. Drawing inspiration from his background in graphic design and painting, Berta seamlessly synthesizes elements from both mediums into his photographic work. His acclaimed series "Moving Shadows" garnered widespread recognition, earning him the prestigious 2016 Getty Images Instagram Grant.
In his latest series, "Motion," Berta embarks on a mission to encapsulate the vitality of Africa's great cities, offering a unique perspective as an Ethiopian artist. From Addis Ababa to Bamako, passing by Marrakech, Jinja, and Turmi, Girma Berta's lens captures the bubbling energy of these African cities. Through his artistic viewpoint, Berta unveils the intangible: the pulsating soul and energy of each city, materializing their essence with a captivating spun effect.
Berta's approach to photography is unapologetically authentic. He refuses to romanticize his subjects, opting instead to capture them in their raw, natural state, often in moments of transit. Through his lens, the realities of everyday life intertwine, reflecting the complexities of the human experience. With an indelible mark, the sacredness of the African working class—the resilient souls who, paradoxically, must be nomadic to maintain their sedentary livelihoods—moves around on scooters, mopeds, bicycles.
Girma Berta’s use of vibrant colors in his compositional harmonies and use of space, reflects the essence of each photographed city, expressing the contrasting realities of life in Africa. Despite often portraying figures engaged in labor or mundane tasks, the artist showcases their resilience and vitality, presenting life authentically and unapologetically.
Through his minimalist and contemporary imagery, Berta symbolizes the ongoing digital revolution in Africa. As a representative of a younger generation embracing digital art, the photographer, who started with an iPhone camera, offers a fresh perspective on the evolving landscape of contemporary photography.
-
Streets of Turmi, Ethiopia_2 (Large format), from The Motion series, 2024
-
Streets of Marrakech, Morocco_1 (Extra large format), 2023
-
Streets of Marrakech, Morocco_2 (Small format), 2023
-
Streets of Marrakech, Morocco_3 (Large format), 2023
-
Streets of Bamako, Mali_1 (Large format), 2022
-
Streets of Bamako, Mali_2 (Large format), 2022
-
Streets of Bamako, Mali_3 (Large format), 2022
-
Streets of Bamako, Mali_4 (Large format), 2022
-
Streets of Jinja, Uganda (Extra large format), 2022
-
Streets of Yirga Chefe, Southern Ethiopia (Large format), 2022
-
Arco Lisboa
Lisbon | Portugal 23 - 26 May 2024Nil Gallery is pleased to participate in ARCO Lisboa, running from May 23rd to May 26th, 2024. The French gallery showcases a curated body of...Read more -
1-54 Marrakech 2024
Morocco | Marrakech 8 - 11 Feb 2024On the occasion of 1-54 Marrakech, from February 8th to 11th, 2024, Nil Gallery invites us to dive into a visual journey that celebrates the richness and dynamism of the contemporary African art scene. The French gallery presents a curated booth that offers fresh and visionary perspectives from artists based in the African continent: Girma Berta, Caleb Kwarteng Prah, Sara Benabdallah, and Slimen Elkamel.Read more -
Photo London 2023
LONDON | UNITED KINGDOM | SOMERSET HOUSE 11 - 14 May 2023For the upcoming Photo London 2023, we would like to highlight the new generation of African photographic artists. Girma Berta and Caleb Kwarteng Prah bring...Read more -
1-54 Marrakech
MARRAKECH | MOROCCO 9 - 12 Feb 2023We are delighted to participate in the 2023 edition of 1-54 Marrakech which will take place from February 09 to 12, 2023 at the prestigious...Read more