The Art of Protest
Hussein Merghani depicts people travelling on the Atbara train to join a peaceful sit-in (2019).
The desire to make a difference and challenge injustice have often been expressed through the medium of art. This would have come as a surprise to my 8-year-old self. I hated art because I found it unbearably boring, and I just could not focus hard enough to draw the perfect face or paint the perfect flower. I always thought art was about producing perfection, however, the point I missed was that art is fundamentally an expression. Sculptor Alberto Giacometti said that ‘the object of art is not to reproduce reality, but to create a reality of the same intensity’. What was once a perfect flower is now a symbol of hope. Later in my life, I finally began to see the depth of emotion and context art could reflect.
Art has always been a substantial part of Sudanese culture. Having undergone multiple revolutions with the aim of gaining freedom from oppressive governments, social change was at the tip of pencils and paintbrushes. Art in Sudan is not just an expression but also a tool for liberation and empowerment. Recently, in 2019 another revolution began in Sudan. There were peaceful protests across the country. Art was not just being created on canvasses and sketchbooks: it was being painted on streets and buildings across the country. Walls were being coated with the colours of freedom and hope; art and expression filled the country. It was through this that I truly discovered the powerful impact of art in telling stories, inspiring young people, and creating positive change.
Pictured above is a painting capturing the arrival of the “Atbara train”. During the revolution, the train from Atbara would bring thousands of people to the capital in Khartoum to participate in the peaceful sit-in at the Military Headquarters. National pride and hope are captured wonderfully by this piece of art.
Source of image: https://www.dabangasudan.org/en/all-news/article/khartoum-sit-in-prompts-explosion-of-creativity-community-spirit
This image captures young people painting pictures of people who lost their lives during the protests. They are being painted in the colours of the old Sudanese flag, which has become a symbol of empowerment and hope. Art is powerful during protests because it brings people together, and creates a sense of community.
I wish my 8-year old self had known the power and freedom art can create. I felt so restricted by what I though art was meant to look like, and it meant that for many years I was too scared to paint, draw or sketch. Art is for everyone, it doesn’t have to be perfect, it must only be honest. What message or story will you try and tell with your art? You never know, your painting could change the world!