Tightrope: Behind the Beauty

2017

Tightrope: Behind the Beauty, 2017. Elias Sime (Ethiopian, b. 1968). Reclaimed electronic components on panel; 231.8 x 323.2 cm (91 1/4 x 127 1/4 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Scott Mueller Collection 4.2022 Sime creates elaborate compositions with reclaimed electronic parts, and it is not uncommon to notice computer keys, circuit boards, and other materials in his work. In his own words, the artist says, "The only thing I think about when I pick up [a cell phone], for instance, is the excitement of the [owner] the first time they got it, the hope they felt about the future, and the eagerness to use it." While praising the benefits that technology provides for the world, Sime's work also calls attention to waste caused by the technology boom and asks viewers to ponder the cost of connection. In 2019 Sime founded the Zoma Museum, a contemporary art museum in his home country of Ethiopia that prioritizes community, ecological art and architecture, and sustainability.