Mutasim H. Omer (1957 -) of Sudan painted
Migration while a lecturer at the College of Fine and
applied Art in Khartoum. At the time he was very disenchanted with the military regime in Sudan
and felt it his duty to give hope to his students through his own work by creating other horizons
or dimensions for them to think about. When I asked him about the meaning of the title, he
answered that it was a feeling he had living in his country while feeling like an outsider.
Being a devout Sufi, Mutasim believes that people need to love and accept each other, and above
all that the younger generations need to learn to discuss and carry on dialogues so that they can
better understand each other.
Mutasim uses many symbols in his work and as you view his work, you
are immediately confronted with a sense of mysticism.
In Migration figures appear and disappear
into the background; the ancient village is shrouded in purple-gray fog, and the prismatic colors
on the left, the birds and the flowers give an uplifting feeling of hope.
Adam and Eve and
First
Love both display Mutasim’s affinity for a gentle feeling, his pervasive use of symbolism, and
juxtaposition of intriguing colors.
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