Press Release

INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ERITREAN ARTIST MICHAEL ADONAI HAS BEEN CHOSEN AS THE RECIPIENT OF THE AFRICAN-AUSTRALIAN EXCELLENCE OF THE YEAR AWARD.

The award is aimed to honour, recognize and celebrate the contributions of Africans to all spheres of the Australian society. It’s also to establish honorarium and present Awards to distinguished, highly influential and outstanding African Australians.

The competitive nomination/application process focuses solely on evidence and merit of past outstanding achievement and advancement. It is an open panel review conducted by nationally recognized professionals in each discipline ensuring that only the most exceptional individuals such as Artist Michael Adonai receive the CAAI award.

Michael, a former Eritrean refugee, who has only lived in Australia for nearly two years, has had four successful exhibitions since 2012.

Among his most famous works is his solo exhibition entitled “I did not choose to be a refugee”. His original, creative painting style and the force of his humanistic ideas has wowed both his critics and viewers.

In addition, Michael generously shares his vast, unique knowledge of the ancient Coptic Art painting style with fellow Australians by giving lectures, seminars and Master Classes.

The CAAI organizers believe that “artists like Michael Adonai provide the creative foundation for the cultural vitality of the greater Multicultural Australian society”.

In the past, Artist Adonai has won several awards and prizes including the “Raimok award” one of the highest national prizes given to an artist. He was also nominated by an international art’s jury to represent Eritrea in the United Nations sponsored Global Art Exhibition, 2001. In addition, he was the participant of the 3rd International Arts Camp – ANDORRA.

Michael was selected to be featured in Dictionary of African Biography, 2012. [DAB is “a major biographical dictionary covering the lives and legacies of notable African men and women from all walks of life.” (Published by OXFORD press in, 2012).

For more information:  http://www.celebrateafricanaustraliansvic.org/home

Photo by: Osman Shihaby