"Is it necesary
for every mordern African artist to travel along the long
road of alienation and assimilation in foreign-type schools
and collees burdening himself with the knowledge and ideas
that will eventually prove to be relevant? Must an African
artist go through this proces and then rediscover the
values for their own artistic heritage?"
These are questions asked by Ulli Beier in his book CONTEMPORARY
ART IN AFRICA. Thanks to the modern pioneers of contemporary
art in Sudan, namely Ibrahim Salahi, Osman Wagiallah,
Professor Shibrain, Dr. Ahmed Abdel Al and Dr. Rashid
Diab, who laid the artistic foundation for Abushariaa,
he did not, like them, need to travel to Europe or America
to study art. Ibrahim Salahi, a leading pioneer in Sudanese
art, went through the process above, but later evolved
his own style inspired by Qoran, meditation in the desert
and Arabic calligraphy. Abushariaa developed harmoniously
in the context of traditional and modern Sudan, influenced
by Nubian culture, his moslem faith, Ibrahim Salahi and
the challenges of today. He has learned from the past,
but lives the present and faces the future with confidence
as can be seen in his inspiring works of art such as "
The Beautiful City", etc.
Abushariaa has been in residence with us at Paa Ya Paa
Arts Center for over two years now and I find him to be
like a fountain of creativity. It has been a joy to watch
him blossom both as a sensitive, pleasant personality
and an outstanding artist in Africa. The impact of his
work on art in Nairobi is clearly noticeable. News of
his success brought hope to many sudanese artists in Khartoum
and now, thanks to his friendly spirit, we have ten new
artists from sudan in residence in Nairobi. His pleasant
personality makes him a natural bridge between Sudan and
East, Southern Africa and Germany where he is including
some very poetic graphic works of art.
Unlike many of his contemporary artists living in Europe
and America, he is happy to be based in Africa as an African
inspite of the material hardships of our times in the
third world. East Africa has many challenging Western,
modern styles of life, and Abushariaa and his faith in
Africa as a potentially dynamic and creative place for
contemporary art rooted in African idiom and expression.
At a glance, his work is rich with decorative symbols
and profuse imagery flowing from fertile imagination.
His semi-abstract style appeals internationally to the
art world of today and yet, as you look closer after enjoying
some of his rich colors and original compositions, you
code of symbols and images and occasional Arabic calligrapy.
Like all art or poetry of depth, there are often symbols
or images that reveal or conceal ethnic or personal secrets.
Abushariaa is an inspiring poet with his brush. I have
often watched him reluctantly interpret his work to a
few of his patrons from the west. I believe Africa still
has many secrets, spiritual and cultural symbols and expressions
that have yet to be understood by the outside world.
I hope through Abushariaa's work that more and more people
from outside will be attracted to discover Africa's secret
world.
For me, Abu is like a strong young African plant with
deep roots, growing steadily with strong branches reaching
out to the rest of the world to share it's generous fruits
and flowers. Look out for the fruits and flowers of this
plant. God bless Africa. Prof. Elimo Njau
Director, Paa Ya Paa Arts Centre
Nairobi, Kenya.
1996.
