Extended Cities is an interdisciplinary artistic residency project that explores the relationship between countries and cities, focusing on themes related to their history, literature, and memory, centering on the theme of construction and destruction. “Extended Cities: Khartoum – PortSudan – Cairo” focuses on the intersections of these three cities exploring, from a visual and artistic perspective, the renarration of Khartoum in the cities of Port Sudan and Cairo following the displacement after the war in April 2023 and the subsequent social and economic transformations that affected the city’s space.
This exhibition is the outcome of the residency that took place between PortSudan and Cairo from August until November 2024. Presenting the works of 6 artists between the two cities. A project of The Muse multi studios, funded by Next Level – Production Fund, a project of the Goethe-Institut as part of the German-Arab Transformation Partnership and supported by the German Federal Foreign Office.
Participating Artists
Mohamed Ahmed Ohaj
Mohamed Ahmed Ohaj, born in Port Sudan in 1999, is a visual artist who graduated from the College of Fine and Applied Arts at Sudan University. His work focuses on reflecting the culture of local communities and its role in shaping individual cultural identity. Through his art, Mohamed visually highlights the tangible and intangible heritage representing various cultural practices and social activities in Sudan. He has participated in numerous art projects and group exhibitions both within Sudan and internationally, showcasing the country’s cultural richness and diversity.
Rawan Abbas
Rawan Abbas is a multidisciplinary artist born in 1996, currently residing in Cairo, Egypt. She has participated in local and international exhibitions, showcasing her work in textiles, sculpture, installation art, and video. Rawan held prominent solo exhibitions at the ARD Arts Foundation in Cairo in 2024 and at Westwerk and Galerie Genscher in Germany in 2023. She also participated in the Dakar Biennale 2022 and the 1-54 Art Fair in London. Rawan facilitates printmaking workshops at the Contemporary Image Center, exploring themes related to femininity, social dynamics, and Egyptian folk heritage through her textile practices. She earned a Bachelor’s degree from the Faculty of Applied Arts at Helwan University in 2020 and studied fine arts at Cardiff Metropolitan University as part of the Erasmus+ program.
Suzan Ibrahim Mahgoub
Suzan Ibrahim Mahgoub is a Sudanese artist and academic, holding a Bachelor’s degree from the Faculty of Fine Arts and Applied Arts, a Master’s in Folklore, and a Ph.D. in Philosophy of Art. She is an assistant professor and head of the Art Education Department at the University of Khartoum. She has held four solo exhibitions, participated in over 35 group exhibitions inside and outside Sudan, and conducted art workshops. She is a member of the Office of Theoretical Affairs at the Sudanese Artists Union and serves on the Committee of Fine Arts at the Sudanese Artists Gathering in Egypt. Her works range from expressing women’s rights to drawing inspiration from memories and heritage. Presented in a semi-abstract style, they allow for contemplation and deep exploration of the artwork. Suzan draws her artistic inspiration from the relationship between humans and the natural environment, and Sudanese culture, expressing a strong sense of belonging.
Siddig Alhadi
Siddig Alhadi is a Sudanese ethnographic photographer and filmmaker. He is currently in his fourth year studying sociology and anthropology and attending the Sudan Film Institute. He is passionate about photography and visual archiving, focusing on visual anthropology and its impacts on art, culture, and society. He began his documentary photography career during the December 2019 revolution, which intensified his interest in filmmaking, particularly anthropology. He participated in the film “To You, My Country, Peace,” showcased at the Ismailia International Festival for Short Documentary Films. Through his artistic work and research, he seeks to understand the dynamics of Sudanese society and visually reflect social narratives.
Tahir Khalid
Tahir Khalid is a Sudanese photographer and filmmaker specialising in documentary photography. He resides in Port Sudan and works with the Rasif Theatre Group, contributing to documentary filmmaking and photography. Tahir is self-taught in photography but studied cinema and visual anthropology at the Sudanese Film Institute. He has worked on several documentaries, including Farja, which explores behind-the-scenes performances by the Rasif Theatre Group. He also co-directed a short film and was the Director of Photography for Voices, a visual podcast. Currently, he aims to focus more on photo essays, documentary street photography, and art books, with a deeper emphasis on photography over filmmaking.
Kamal Hashim
Kamal Hashim is an ophthalmologist, university professor, and former university president, born in 1962 in the Buri district of Khartoum. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Painting) in 2020 and is considered one of the leading visual artists in Sudan. He has participated in solo and group exhibitions inside and outside Sudan, including his solo exhibition at Cairo University in 1985 and the Rashid Diab exhibition in 2012. His style blends African and Islamic elements with Sudanese heritage, creating contemporary artworks. His profession as an ophthalmologist inspires his use of colours, allowing him to express dreams and reality through surreal details.