Berlin / Stockholm based writer and director – Michael Bekele
Flower
Flower Studio is a desk, floating between Berlin and Stockholm, occupied by Michael S. Bekele. The studio's roots lie within visual communication, writing and cultural production . For the past 4 years the desk has gladly rendered direction and writing services, while at the same time maintaining a loose and open artistic practice. Since the studio's establishment in 2017 there has been a continuous effort to develop and adapt to ever changing external and internal landscapes, which has led to an eclectic mix of different projects.
Some notable and recent projects include: 1) The audio drama Härifrån released on Storytel in 2022, which was directed and produced by Michael S. Bekele and co-created and written with Jason Diakité. Härifrån was awarded with the Golden Ear by the Swedish Radio Academy for best entertainment podcast in 2023. 2) The short film Black Square written and directed by the aforementioned and produced by Gambio Film and Film I Väst with support from the Swedish Film Institute. The short film premieres at the Uppsala Short Film Festival in 2024. 3) The Masked I, acquired into the collection of Röhsska Museet in Gothenburg in 2024, consisting of a sculpture and performance lecture, filmed by Senay Berhe.
The studio thrives most under collaborations of all sorts. If you are a past or current comrade, then many thanks. If you are a future one, then welcome! The ambition is to explore and empathise with the human condition, while creating life affirming and healing narratives. Michael S. Bekele is entangled with a language based practice centred around the somatic and subconscious. Furthermore he is engaged in organisations, as the chairperson for Black Archives Sweden in Malmö and the co-founder of the artist run community space Munnen in Stockholm.
Hello my friend, how have you been? Summer has come and gone. Isn't that such an interesting thing with summer, either just about to arrive or recently passed, with such a short window in between. Well, I've actually had a splendid summer with a lot of ice cream.
I am looking forward to a fall willed with plenty of pleasant things. While in Berlin I will write, write and write. On my monthly stints back to Sweden I will play, play and play.
Hmm, otherwise? The short film I've been working for the last two years has found its festival where it will premiere. The Uppsala Short Film Festival. Can you believe it? It's called Black Square and I'm quite proud of it.
And the audio drama which I got to direct, produce and co-create won the "Golden Ear" for best entertainment podcast by the Swedish Radio Academy. It felt very gratifying to win the prize and share it with all the wonderful and gorgeous people who worked with me on it. It's called Härifrån and you can find it on Storytel.
The script writing program I'm in is nearing its end. It's been a fantastic ride which has given me the opportunity to develop some projects. I have two feature films and a TV show under my belt. Giddy up!
A museum in Gothenburg, Röhsska, bought one of my artworks. It's a sculpture, a mask, fittingly titled "The Masked I". It has now entered their collection and will be part of their permanent exhibition which opens this fall. I will be performing a performance lecture at Röhsska in line with the opening of the exhibition. A bit out of my comfort zone but that's just how I like it.
Oh, you gotta go? Good luck with your therapy and taxes. Yes, talk soon! Say hi to my future self, won't you?