Ibrahim El-Salahi's Untitled (1964), currently on view at Louvre Abu Dhabi

Ibrahim El-Salahi: from Khartoum to Oxford, with art and love



In February last year, in protest against President Trump's so-called Muslim Ban, the Museum of Modern Art in New York brought works by artists from the nations on Trump's ban out of storage and put them on public view.

It was a display of solidarity with the listed countries and the American Muslim community.

Among these was the Sudanese painter Ibrahim El-Salahi's Al Masjid (1964), a dark painting of circular and crescent motifs in which an elongated face peers outward, next to a geometrical, abstracted mosque.

The work hadn't been shown at MoMA in 30 years, the curator and art historian Salah Hassan recounted last week, during a riveting lecture organised by the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. Hassan paused a moment, and then asked: "Why was it in storage in the first place?"

The crowd roared. Hassan curated the first retrospective of the major Sudanese modernist's work, in 2012, which he said he had proposed to institutions for about 15 years until Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi, director of the Sharjah Art Foundation, helped bring it to the Sharjah Art Museum. It then travelled to Tate Modern in London.

Now, the first retrospective of El-Salahi's work has opened in Oxford – the English town where the artist has lived with his family for 20 years. Ibrahim El-Salahi: A Sudanese Artist in Oxford is the inaugural show by the Ashmolean Museum's first curator of modern and contemporary art, Lena Fritsch.

"El-Salahi is a pioneer of African and Arab modernism," Fritsch says. "I wanted to provide an introduction to his work, and at the same time to provide a new view by connecting his works to the Sudanese objects in our collection."

The beloved Oxford institution, the world's first university museum, has one of the best collections of ancient Sudanese art outside Khartoum.

Fritsch and El-Salahi sifted through these objects together, picking out ancient Sudanese pottery – one artefact dates to 2250BCE – to accompany his 20th and 21st-century works. It was an echo of the period, Fritsch says, when El-Salahi went back to Sudan after studying at the Slade School of Fine Art in London.

"When he returned, in 1957, people in Sudan were not interested in showing his work," she says. In order to connect more to Sudan, "he went around looking at Sudanese objects that people had in their homes – the Quran, folk art, calligraphy – and created links to them in his work".

Fritsch says the juxtaposition made "absolute sense". El-Salahi chose objects with typical Sudanese motifs, such as the snake, the crocodile or plants, and the relation between his colour palette, with its dark browns and ochres, and that of the pottery is unmistakable.

Fritsch's curation and Hassan's lecture show two sides of the artist, whom Hassan describes as a meticulous man of deep faith. His father taught Islam in Omdurman, and his first job was decorating the school's writing slates.

In 1960, he co-founded the Khartoum School, a group of artists whose work blended modernist abstraction with traditional Sudanese and Islamic motifs, particularly a form of calligraphy that became known as ­hurufiyya. El-Salahi and the Khartoum School were also at the forefront of the political project of decolonisation: the eradication of not only the structures of colonialism, but also its mindset. This project united writers and artists across Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, in events and movements from the 1950s to the 1970s such as the Bandung Conference, the Pan-African Festival in Algiers, Negritude, the Tricontinentale, and Gamal Abdel Nasser's Pan-Arabism.

For Hassan, one of the foremost scholars of contemporary African art, this is what separates African modernism from its western counterpart: "It was a project of true liberation."

In Sudan, El-Salahi was active in politics. In the 1970s, he was the undersecretary for culture, and spent time in jail. He used that period to create a stunning book of illustrations and calligraphy, Prison Notebook (1976), that is now also in the collection of MoMA. Although his artwork was political, it was imbued with personal feeling, such as the paintings Self-Portrait of Suffering(1961), of a figure whose cheeks appear to be sunken by anxiety, and The Last Sound (1964), in which a dark red spot of paint emanates from the centre of the canvas, and drips downwards.

Hassan's discussion, as part of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi's Talking Art series, opened with El-Salahi's Untitled (1964). Painted while he was on a residency in New York, it is unusual within his work for its use of a spray can to create the vivid patches of blue that undergird the painting's almost architectural black design. According to Hassan, Skunder Boghossian, an Ethiopian artist on the same residency, lent El-Salahi the spray paint – but El-Salahi seems to have forgotten about the new method afterwards.

UAE viewers can see El-Salahi's Untitled at Louvre Abu Dhabi, where it is on loan from the collection of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. The Last Sound, which is owned by the Barjeel Art Foundation, will go on view at the Sharjah Art Museum when the Barjeel's collection moves there on long-term loan on May 12.

At the Ashmolean, one can see later work by the artist, such as his geometric sculptures and multi-panelled paintings. Fritsch has also included the small drawings that El-Salahi is currently making, which he executes on discarded envelopes and medicine packets, and titles, poignantly for the 87-year-old master, "pain-relief drawings".

Ibrahim El-Salahi: A Sudanese Artist in Oxford is at the Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology in Oxford, UK until September 2. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday,10am to 5pm

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Read more:

10@10 podcast: The UAE arts scene with Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi

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Tree of Hell

Starring: Raed Zeno, Hadi Awada, Dr Mohammad Abdalla

Director: Raed Zeno

Rating: 4/5

The specs

Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

Company%20Profile
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TRAP

Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue

Director: M Night Shyamalan

Rating: 3/5

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Results

5.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Dirt) 1,600m, Winner: Panadol, Mickael Barzalona (jockey), Salem bin Ghadayer (trainer)

6.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,400m, Winner: Mayehaab, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass

6.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh85,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Monoski, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer

7.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (T) 1,800m, Winner: Eastern World, Royston Ffrench, Charlie Appleby

7.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (D) 1,200m, Winner: Madkal, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass

8.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (T) 1,200m, Winner: Taneen, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Thank You for Banking with Us

Director: Laila Abbas

Starring: Yasmine Al Massri, Clara Khoury, Kamel El Basha, Ashraf Barhoum

Rating: 4/5

Recycle Reuse Repurpose

New central waste facility on site at expo Dubai South area to  handle estimated 173 tonne of waste generated daily by millions of visitors

Recyclables such as plastic, paper, glass will be collected from bins on the expo site and taken to the new expo Central Waste Facility on site

Organic waste will be processed at the new onsite Central Waste Facility, treated and converted into compost to be re-used to green the expo area

Of 173 tonnes of waste daily, an estimated 39 per cent will be recyclables, 48 per cent  organic waste  and 13 per cent  general waste.

About 147 tonnes will be recycled and converted to new products at another existing facility in Ras Al Khor

Recycling at Ras Al Khor unit:

Plastic items to be converted to plastic bags and recycled

Paper pulp moulded products such as cup carriers, egg trays, seed pots, and food packaging trays

Glass waste into bowls, lights, candle holders, serving trays and coasters

Aim is for 85 per cent of waste from the site to be diverted from landfill 

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Power: 268bhp / 536bhp
Torque: 343Nm / 686Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
On sale: Later this year
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Fasset%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2019%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Mohammad%20Raafi%20Hossain%2C%20Daniel%20Ahmed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%242.45%20million%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2086%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Pre-series%20B%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Investcorp%2C%20Liberty%20City%20Ventures%2C%20Fatima%20Gobi%20Ventures%2C%20Primal%20Capital%2C%20Wealthwell%20Ventures%2C%20FHS%20Capital%2C%20VN2%20Capital%2C%20local%20family%20offices%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
What drives subscription retailing?

Once the domain of newspaper home deliveries, subscription model retailing has combined with e-commerce to permeate myriad products and services.

The concept has grown tremendously around the world and is forecast to thrive further, according to UnivDatos Market Insights’ report on recent and predicted trends in the sector.

The global subscription e-commerce market was valued at $13.2 billion (Dh48.5bn) in 2018. It is forecast to touch $478.2bn in 2025, and include the entertainment, fitness, food, cosmetics, baby care and fashion sectors.

The report says subscription-based services currently constitute “a small trend within e-commerce”. The US hosts almost 70 per cent of recurring plan firms, including leaders Dollar Shave Club, Hello Fresh and Netflix. Walmart and Sephora are among longer established retailers entering the space.

UnivDatos cites younger and affluent urbanites as prime subscription targets, with women currently the largest share of end-users.

That’s expected to remain unchanged until 2025, when women will represent a $246.6bn market share, owing to increasing numbers of start-ups targeting women.

Personal care and beauty occupy the largest chunk of the worldwide subscription e-commerce market, with changing lifestyles, work schedules, customisation and convenience among the chief future drivers.

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The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)

Guns N’ Roses’s last gig before Abu Dhabi was in Hong Kong on November 21. We were there – and here’s what they played, and in what order. You were warned.

  • It’s So Easy
  • Mr Brownstone
  • Chinese Democracy
  • Welcome to the Jungle
  • Double Talkin’ Jive
  • Better
  • Estranged
  • Live and Let Die (Wings cover)
  • Slither (Velvet Revolver cover)
  • Rocket Queen
  • You Could Be Mine
  • Shadow of Your Love
  • Attitude (Misfits cover)
  • Civil War
  • Coma
  • Love Theme from The Godfather (movie cover)
  • Sweet Child O’ Mine
  • Wichita Lineman (Jimmy Webb cover)
  • Wish You Were Here (instrumental Pink Floyd cover)
  • November Rain
  • Black Hole Sun (Soundgarden cover)
  • Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Bob Dylan cover)
  • Nightrain

Encore:

  • Patience
  • Don’t Cry
  • The Seeker (The Who cover)
  • Paradise City
Company%20profile
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Wonka
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%C2%A0Paul%20King%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%C2%A0%3C%2Fstrong%3ETimothee%20Chalamet%2C%20Olivia%20Colman%2C%20Hugh%20Grant%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

Where to submit a sample

Volunteers of all ages can submit DNA samples at centres across Abu Dhabi, including: Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec), Biogenix Labs in Masdar City, NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City, NMC Royal Medical Centre, Abu Dhabi, NMC Royal Women's Hospital, Bareen International Hospital, Al Towayya in Al Ain, NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain

Scores in brief:

  • New Medical Centre 129-5 in 17 overs bt Zayed Cricket Academy 125-6 in 20 overs.
  • William Hare Abu Dhabi Gymkhana 188-8 in 20 overs bt One Stop Tourism 184-8 in 20 overs
  • Alubond Tigers 138-7 in 20 overs bt United Bank Limited 132-7 in 20 overs
  • Multiplex 142-6 in 17 overs bt Xconcepts Automobili 140 all out in 20 overs
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAlmouneer%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dr%20Noha%20Khater%20and%20Rania%20Kadry%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEgypt%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E120%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBootstrapped%2C%20with%20support%20from%20Insead%20and%20Egyptian%20government%2C%20seed%20round%20of%20%3Cbr%3E%243.6%20million%20led%20by%20Global%20Ventures%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Joker: Folie a Deux

Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson

Director: Todd Phillips 

Rating: 2/5

BULKWHIZ PROFILE

Date started: February 2017

Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: E-commerce 

Size: 50 employees

Funding: approximately $6m

Investors: Beco Capital, Enabling Future and Wain in the UAE; China's MSA Capital; 500 Startups; Faith Capital and Savour Ventures in Kuwait

Match info

Liverpool 4
Salah (19'), Mane (45 2', 53'), Sturridge (87')

West Ham United 0