Sudanese visual artist Waleed Mohammed, who works from a studio in Nairobi, Kenya, is using painting, mixed media and multimedia to document and reclaim Sudan’s collective memory. His latest series draws on historical photographs and family albums to create works that reflect both the country’s recent turmoil and its earlier history.
Mohammed’s own experience of war, displacement and the dispersal of his family informs the project. He says the conflict that erupted in April 2023 forced many Sudanese, including himself, to leave their homes and scattered relatives across borders, a reality that now shapes the narratives he portrays.
In his Nairobi studio, the artist combines traditional painting techniques with a variety of materials—ranging from collage elements to digital imagery—to reinterpret archival photos. By re‑imagining these images, he seeks to bridge personal memory with the broader social history of Sudan.
The artworks explore how Sudanese lives have been transformed since the outbreak of fighting in April 2023, while also evoking memories of the years before the war. Through visual storytelling, Mohammed highlights both the disruptions caused by the conflict and the enduring cultural ties that persist across generations.
Mohammed’s initiative underscores the role of art in preserving collective memory amid conflict. As Sudan continues to grapple with the humanitarian and cultural impacts of the war, his work offers a means for Sudanese communities, both at home and in diaspora, to reconnect with their shared past.
<small>Source: AllAfrica — read the original story there.</small>