The Kingdom of Kush, which was located in the region of Nubia, represents an important part of ancient culture in Sudan. In his artworks, the painter Shahto Ali refers to different figures and symbols related to Kush culture. He says: “In my work I try to combine ancient samples and artefacts with contemporary materials in order to blur the lines of what it means to be ‘traditional’ or ‘contemporary’.” In his presentation he will explain different examples of traditional cultural items and how he arranges them in his paintings. Furthermore, he will talk about the appearance of references to ancient cultures in the context of current political movements in Sudan.

Shahto Ali is a painter and lawyer. He holds a Bachelors degree in Fine Art from Sudan University of Technology and a PhD in International Relations from the Geneva School of Diplomacy. His paintings were exhibited in Sudan and Ethiopia, as well as in different places in Switzerland. As a political activist, he regularly publishes videos on his YouTube channel, in which he analyses the current political situation in Sudan. Shahto Ali lives in Rafz with his family.

© Olaf Brachem