Call for Support in Sudan
Ibrahim El-Salahi, Vision of the Tomb, 1965
Sudanese artist Ibrahim El-Salahi has long been one of my favorite abstractionist painters. I can’t quite remember when I first encountered his work—definitely on-line—but I do remember seeing it in person for the first time at Tate Modern. Gosh, there’s nothing like that first time.
His use of color, line, and scale has always drawn my eye and heart. For me, encountering his work feels like a soft tap on the shoulder: a reminder that whichever museum houses his work might just have a collection that is worthy of closer attention, that their galleries deserve a slower pace, and that my presence and patience are essential tools for viewing. Context is everything. As a viewer, I know what I like and what I don’t, but I also know that when I rush, I risk disenfranchising my own experience of art. I’m always grateful to the artists that stop me right in my tracks.
Today is Day 857 of the war in Sudan. El-Salahi was born in 1930 in Omdurman, one of several towns in eastern Sudan that remain in dire need of aid and our collective awareness.
This month, proceeds from subscriptions will go to Basmat Wasl, a volunteer-led organization that has worked tirelessly to distribute drinking water in Gedaref and meals in Gedaref, Omdurman, and Jareef. As of last week, Basmat Wasl announced on Instagram that they have run out of funds to continue operations.
If you are able, please consider making a donation to their PayPal, here.