"Is it necessary for every modern African artist to travel along the long road of alienation and assimilation in foreign-type schools and colleges burdening himself with the knowledge and ideas that will eventually prove to be irrelevant ?
Must an African artist go through this process and then rediscover the values of their own artistic heritage ?"
These are questions asked by Ulli Beier in his book CONTEMPORARY ART IN AFRICA.
Thanks to 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 leeding pioneer in modern 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 Centre 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 betwee 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 artist in spite 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 his 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 calligraphy.
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 secret, 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 its generous fruits and flowers.
Look out for the fruits and flowers of this plant.
God Bless Africa.
Elimo Njau
Director, Paa Ya Paa Arts Centre
Nairobi, Kenya.
1996.
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