Interview of Two Sudanese Artists: Hameem Almahy and Yousef Elamin
Oleish: Firstly, I’d like to thank you for the beauty that you share with the world. Your work reflects the Sudanese community and culture. I was lucky to see you and four other artists exhibit your work right by the Sudan National Museum. I’d like to ask you why you chose that place in particular? And when did you first start exhibiting there?
Almahy: Thank you Hala. It’s my pleasure. I’ll answer your question now. In the past, we displayed our work on the Nile Street by Sudan’s Hotel. That was back in 2009. The idea was suggested by the Union of Sudanese Artists and Musical Professions in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Information and Tourism. We wanted to move beyond the boundaries of exhibition halls. You could say that we wanted to display our art so as to somehow encourage a civilized behavior and trigger more interest in art among the general civilians. In 2012, the exhibition was moved to where you saw it; that is at the garden right by the Sudan National Museum. In order for it to be an integrated work, this change was decided by the state of Khartoum in coordination with the museum’s administration…in the field of Tourism and for the visitors of the museum. And the exhibition remains alive to this day. This is an exhibition open to all the artists who wish to display their portraits and illustrations, be it registered in the union or not. The most important element is having creativity and a unique print in your style of drawing.
Oleish: In your opinion, what constitutes the importance of art in our lives?
Almahy: I believe that art is the light of life, its joy and culture.
Oleish: Illustrations are very attractive and there is liveliness to them. You tend to draw people more often than not. I want to ask you where do you usually get the inspiration from? And what is the message that you wish to deliver through your art?
Almahy: Hmm… From history and culture. Let me give you an example. The illustration that I have posted on my Instagram page on May 28th of this year 2021, is an effort to build a bridge between the past and the now. That is between the ancient Nubian age and the contemporary age of Sudan; all in one.
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“My oldest memory relating to art was during the early 90’s before school when I’d show my older sister my imitation of Super Hero poses that I saw on TV without even realizing their names or story. Until the recent years, my main source of inspiration for art has been comic magazines, animated shows, and video games from my childhood and teenage days. I recently took an interest in Sudanese cultural heritage and it fascinated me. I thought of the endless potential to keep displaying our culture through art and started exploring my imagination and creativity in that field through some of my late artworks in workshops, commissions, and my personal art challenges. I aspire to contribute more to the Sudanese culture in even bigger projects and to help inspire content creators to let us see Sudan through their creative minds.”
Oleish: Yousif, I’d like to thank you for sharing such appealing work with us and for adding meaning and depth to us the Sudanese community, and to the whole world. Firstly, I’d like to ask you about your nickname. You are known as yakam_dudes, that is the name on your accounts. What does this name stand for?
Elamin: You’re welcome. YAKAM is the first letters of my full name. Dudes is for the characters I draw.
Oleish: Tell us more about your illustration: ‘Predators’.
Elamin: The basic idea is suffering of the people in Sudan. I wanted to depict how systematic it is, especially after the fall of El-Bashir. The current crisis in economy and basic life needs such as bread, water, fuel, etc have been and still are caused by the deep state and the remaining relics of the late Islamo-fascist regime in order to crush the people in their suffocating grip and make their only way out - the jaws of their predators.
Oleish: In your opinion, what is the role of art in expressing history and heritage?
Elamin: I believe art has a crucial part in expressing history and cultural heritage especially when access to information and multimedia has never been easier. Why be content on written history books when we can visualize history in a variety of adaptations with limitless potential? Art has the power to intrigue its viewers regardless of its topic so why not intrigue more people in history? It would be a potential learning experience for bettering ourselves and work for our future with a clearer and better view.
Oleish: Tell us more about your recent illustration: 'The Four Oppressed Monkeys' Why are they four? What’s the story behind this name?
Elamin: It is based on a Japanese proverbial principle of the three wise monkeys; see no evil, hear no evil, and speak no evil. There’s also a fourth monkey that is rarely mentioned: do no evil, but you can find all four references in chat emojis. My take on this concept is a twist on that principle. Here, the monkeys are oppressed and subjugated to see no good, hear no good, speak no good, and do no good by the late regime. The symbol of the oppressor here is the steel cups known as Kezan in the Sudanese dialect which is a term used for the late governing party that became a derogatory term for them with time.
Oleish: Do you think art can render peace? Many people think art paves way to chaos. What's your opinion on that?
Elamin: Both are equally possible. It depends on who makes art, what moves the artist, and the level of awareness and moral compass of the artist and their viewers.
Oleish: In your opinion, what elements of Sudanese culture can be best portrayed through art?
The various civilizations of different ethnicities in all recorded historical periods and the folklore associated with them.
Hameem Almahy
Instagram: @hameemmahy
Yousif Elamin (AKA YAKAM Dudes)
Instagram: @yakam_dudes