Variance
April 08- April 13 (2023)
Exhibition
The collection takes inspiration from a significant date, April 1985, which provided the artist’s generation with a newfound understanding of the world. The establishment of libraries and access to public knowledge from various cultural institutions enabled them to access a wealth of information that paved new paths for their development, equipping them with the tools necessary to understand the world around them.
As the artist explored that, other ideas started to connect and build on each other, for example, the art of streets, Rakshas, and buses, an art form that has a comedic flavor to it rather than being an attempt to understand social phenomena.
The artist’s artistic creation is, therefore, a congregation of many parts, each forming a window for other creations, and this is evident in this latest collection. Just like life, it starts with small parts that grow bigger as we continue to explore it.
The creation of this collection is also not separate from the work that came before it. Rather, it is a continuation of his journey as an artist, seeking to push the boundaries of creativity in all ways imaginable.
Exhibition Images
Exhibition Catalogue
The Artist
Abdelmageid Afifi
Abdelmgeid Afifi, a true son of Burri, Khartoum State, was born in 1966 with an intrinsic knack for creativity. Raised and schooled in Burri, his passion for art flourished from an early age. His teacher, Omer El-Nujoomi, saw in him the potential for an art career, a belief that paved the way for Afifi’s illustrious journey in the world of art.
In 1990, Afifi received a Further Education diploma in drawing and painting from the Department of Drawing and Painting. It was soon after that he began showcasing his work in galleries, starting with his first exhibition in 1991 at the British Council. It was a resounding success that proved to be a springboard for many more solo and group exhibitions in Sudan and France. Afifi’s talent was not only recognized by the community, but international accolades soon followed. In 1996, he received the Egyptian Triennale Graphic Art Prize, and in 1998, he received the first prize from Sudan and Great Britain.
A humble man, Afifi drew inspiration from the many artists and art teachers who guided and supported him on his artistic journey. Among them were Abdel-rahman Shangal, Ahmed El-Mardi, Ahmed Eltayeb, Taha Al-ata, Hatim Koko, and many others. These mentors imparted in him a deep appreciation for his environment, which serves as a constant source of motivation for his art.
Afifi believes that an artist’s work should be ever-evolving, constantly pushing them to explore new techniques and mediums. He has been a steadfast member of numerous local organizations that are working towards bettering the community. It is clear to see that he does not only create art for art’s sake; instead, he believes in engraving the values of art in the Sudanese community and ensuring the Sudanese people own artworks.
Overall, Abdelmgeid Afifi is an artist of remarkable talent, inspiring not only his compatriots but also art enthusiasts worldwide. He paints with a passion that is so uniquely his own, and his work is an ode to his homeland and the culture that is so deeply ingrained within him.