The painted churches of Ethiopia: preserving a fragile heritage: Stephen Rickerby and Lisa Shekede

Ethiopia’s enduring Christian Orthodox tradition is embodied in the country’s rock-cut painted churches, especially those concentrated in the northern highlands of Tigray. They stand witness to cultural roots in the Aksumite Empire, which emerged in the 1st century C.E and had long-lasting influences on the art and architecture of Ethiopia. Widely scattered across mountainous terrain and typically hidden in remote locations, the painted churches are now at risk from a range of threats, including most recently that of civil war. Since 2013, the Ethiopian Heritage Fund (EHF) has worked to study and conserve these threatened sites. This illustrated presentation described the complex and shifting challenges involved in this long-term endeavour.

About the Speakers:

Stephen Rickerby and Lisa Shekede are wall painting conservators who work internationally. Past and current projects include medieval and Byzantine churches in Cyprus and Georgia, ancient tombs in Egypt, and Buddhist caves and temples in China and Bhutan. They also teach conservation practice and theory in the UK and abroad and have published widely. They are consultant conservators for the Ethiopian Heritage Fund (EHF).

This lecture was presented in collaboration with The Ethipoian Heritage Fund. The Ethiopian Heritage Fund is a UK registered charity. It was set up in 2005 and works in close collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church to record and conserve the treasures found in the Orthodox Churches of Ethiopia and to raise awareness of these important religious and cultural objects and paintings both within and without Ethiopia. Since its inception, the charity has undertaken a number of projects to conserve manuscripts, icons, wood and metal artifacts and most recently, wall paintings. It has also supported local scholarship and exhibitions with small grants, and has sponsored publications of Ethiopian art. For more information on their work, visit their website: www.ethiopianheritagefund.org