Desta
Hagos is known for using oil and watercolor paints in bright colors to paint
beautiful scenes from everyday life. Her painting style has shifted from
realistic to semi-abstract to abstract.
The
style of this painting is classified as abstract in the modern artistic style,
where a symbolic expression is seen; the combination of colors using the linear
elements in the painting creates a visual sensation. However, each art element
represents a logically structured graphical composition.
The
inner layer of blue in the painting gives depth to this artistic creation and
lends calmness to the circular shapes resting on it. This illusion refers to
the worlds or planets that appear to be in a cross-shaped embrace, aided by
shadow and light. Furthermore, the atmosphere created by the horizontal and
lateral lines accentuates the rounded shapes in front. The circular shapes that
stand out in a seemingly different way in relation to each other are also analogous
to the basic cycle of life.
The
colored images in each circle seem to represent the various imaginary pictures
that our mind creates for the moon that we see in the real world. This way, it
can be seen that Desta Hagos was influenced by the artistic style of Gebre
Kristos’ circle period (1964–1970). We can also see that it represents Desta’s
childhood memory of being delighted to see the moon every night and how it
influenced her subconscious. In this picture, we can also see our world. When
we look deeply, it reminds us of the images created by the moon in the sky.
The
way she uses colors to express this feeling is magnificent. Desta’s usage of
round shapes in symbolic expressions and the freedom with which she uses color
structures not only create their own softness and roughness on the mind of the
viewer but also make the painting maintain its balance by adding beauty to each
other in an amazing artistic structure.