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Ahmed Umar (artist)

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This article is about Sudanese-Norwegian visual artist and LGBT activist (born 1988). For other people named Ahmed Omer, see Ahmed Omer.
Ahmed Umar
أحمد عمر
Ahmed Umar during an interview in 2021
Born
Ahmed Siddig Umar

(1988-02-10) 10 February 1988 (age 36)
Citizenship
Notable workThe Art of Sin
This Arab Is Queer
Carrying the face of ugliness
The Nile Pride 2030
Websitewww.ahmedumar.com

Ahmed Umar (Arabic: أحمد عمر, born 10 February 1988) is a Sudanese-Norwegian visual artist and LGBT activist. He[A] grew up in a conservative family in Sudan and later fled to Norway. His artwork mixes Sudanese (e.g., the Black Pharaohs of the ancient Kingdom of Kush) and Western influences. He was profiled in the 2020 documentary The Art of Sin.

Life and career

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Early life

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Ahmed Umar was born in Sudan on 10 February 1988,[3][4] to Siddig and Zeinab Umar and as the youngest of five siblings.[1][5] His was a traditional Sufi family that lived between Mecca and Sudan.[2][6]

Umar was educated in Mecca and first began to fall in love with other boys whilst living there.[1] He later went on to study in Sudan and entered into a "halal relationship" with a woman, though his feelings for men continued.[1]

Moving to Norway

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Umar arrived in Norway in 2008 as a political refugee from Sudan on the basis of his sexuality, which at the time was one of seven nations that executed people for same-sex conduct.[7] He obtained a bachelor’s degree in Printmaking 2014 from Oslo National Academy of the Arts, followed by a master’s degree in Fine Art.[8]

While in Norway, he became an artist known for mixing Sudanese and Western influences [9][10] in the medium of live performances, work with ceramics,[11] jewellery,[12] and prints.[9] His work has since been exhibited at various national and international institutes.[13]

Art and LGBT activism

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In 2015, Umar came out as gay on Facebook. This caused many of the Sudanese community to turn against him, including members of his family.[2][14] He later said of this experience:

I believed that I was cursed and that Allah would punish me with eternal unhappiness, HIV and die like Freddie Mercury, and that I will bring shame to my family. I wanted so badly to die. I was so lonely.[2]

His coming out was profiled in the 2020 film The Art of Sin. In 2022, he contributed a chapter entitled Pilgrimage of Love to an anthology entitled This Arab Is Queer.[1] In an interview with 500 Words Magazine, he discussed his belief that there were entirely homosexual groups of men living in the Kingdom of Kush,[5] challenging Sudan's deep-rooted homophobia.[15]

Islam in Umar's Work

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Umar is an atheist[16] but Islam and Arabic culture are major themes in his work.[2][17] Many of his sculptures were inspired by the Qur'an, such as Would any of you like to eat a dead brothers flesh?,' (Arabic: أَيُحِبُّ أَحَدُكُمْ أَنْ يَأْكُلَ لَحْمَ أَخِيهِ مَيْتًا فَكَرِهْتُمُوهُ) which originates from Quran Chapter 49:12, and What Lasts! (Arabic: ماذا تبقا) which describes the story of Lot.[18] Umar's 2016 'Purification set' sculpture shows the tools used for Wudu.[18]

Umar's jewellery work Hijab (Arabic: حجاب) navigates the strong link between religion amulets and superstition[19] by stringing together a 365-bead amulet, one for every day of the year, to protect the wearer from harm and bring luck in the Sufi tradition.[20]

Sudan in Umar's Work

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Umar's work embraces Sudanese culture and themes. If you no longer have a family, make your own with clay (Arabic: الماعنده أهل, يعمل أهل من طين),[21] is named for a Sudanese proverb and deals with Umar's family disowning him after his coming out.[22] In 2018, Umar became a naturalised Norwegian citizen and attended the citizenship ceremony wearing an outfit that combined Sudanese and Norwegian cultures.[9][6]

Carrying the face of ugliness

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Umar became widely known as the face of the Sudanese LGBT community, while animosity towards him also grew. In 2020, while filming The Art of Sin, he compiled a series of photographs of various members of the LGBT community in Sudan, then added his face on top of theirs. He titled this series Carrying the face of ugliness (Arabic: شايل وش القباحة) after a Sudanese phrase which refers to someone who does something unfamiliar, confronts an issue and takes the blame for it.[23] These photos were later displayed as street art around Oslo.[24][25][26] [27][28]

Sudanese Revolution

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Support of the Sudanese Revolution is a major theme in Umar's work.[29] In June 2019, Umar joined NYC Pride March wearing a Sudanese-inspired outfit.[30] He also shared his hopes to "live freely in a democratic nation where everyone is valued equally".[31] In 2020, during the Agenda arts and crafts event organised by Oslo National Academy of the Arts, Umar showcased his artworks relating to the relationship between art and democracy in the context of Sudan and its 30 years dictatorship.[32] In 2021, the In God's hand photo project depicted the revolutionary women of Sudan, The Kandakas.[33][34]

The Nile Pride 2030

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The Nile Pride 2030 عِزّة النيل event poster.[35]

Umar is convinced that there will be a Pride parade in Sudan before he dies,[21] an occasion he considers as important as Christmas or Eid. He actively promotes The Nile Pride (Arabic: عِزّة النيل), a festival planned to take place in Khartoum in 2030.[35]

Work and exhibitions

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Selected work

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  • Kunsten a være syndig (2017) - short documentary film.[36]
  • If you no longer have a family, make your own with clay (Arabic: الماعنده أهل, يعمل أهل من طين), Last Frontier art space, NYC, US.[9] (2019)
  • In God's hand, Ha Gamle Prestegard, Oslo.[33] (2022)

Selected public collections

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Sculpture Thawr, Thawra (Arabic: ثورة, ثورة) at the Norwegian National Museum, Oslo[29]
  • Hijab (Annual Protection, Arabic: حجاب), Oslo Municipality Art Collection.[40] (2017)
  • Forbidden Prayer: The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (An installation for the embassy of Norway in Khartoum, Sudan).[41] (2020)

Awards and honours

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2016: The Art Student Grant from BKH, The Norwegian Relief Fund for Visual Artists.[42]

2017: Debutante Award, Kunsthånverk, Norske kunst og hånverkers Årsutstilling, National Museum of Decorative Arts, Trondheim.[43]

2018

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  • Young and newly established artist's work grant, Arts Council Norway.[44]
  • Atelier Kunstnerforbundet Studio residency.[45]
  • NOoSPHERE Artist Residency Award, New York City.[46]
  • Scheibler Foundation Art and Craft Award.[47]

2021

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Umar uses "he/him", "she/her",[1] and "they/them"[2] pronouns. This article uses he/him pronouns for editorial consistency.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Jahshan, Elias (2022). "Ahmed Umar: Pilgrimage to Love". This Arab is queer : an anthology by LGBTQ+ Arab writers. pp. 75–82. ISBN 978-0-86356-478-9. OCLC 1334646295.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Ahmed Umar: On hair, art and queerness". My Kali. 18 August 2022. Archived from the original on 23 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  3. ^ Melvær, Mia (9 December 2020), "Ahmed Umar", Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian Bokmål), archived from the original on 24 October 2022, retrieved 26 October 2022
  4. ^ a b "Ahmed Umar". Norske Kunsthåndverkere (in Norwegian Bokmål). Archived from the original on 23 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Art and Identity: A Conversation with Ahmed Umar". 500 Words Magazine. Archived from the original on 21 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  6. ^ a b c "Home". Artofsin. Archived from the original on 21 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  7. ^ "Talent Norge | Kunstnerpresentasjon - Ahmed Umar". www.talentnorge.no (in Norwegian Bokmål). Archived from the original on 25 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  8. ^ "Talent Norge | Møt programdeltakerne 2021 - 2023". www.talentnorge.no (in Norwegian Bokmål). Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  9. ^ a b c d "Never too young – CAS". 8 April 2021. Archived from the original on 21 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  10. ^ "Ahmed Umar: Day in the Life". www.munchmuseet.no. Archived from the original on 21 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  11. ^ a b "Vestfossen Kunstlaboratorium on Instagram: "«What Lasts! (Sarcophagus)» av Ahmed Umar. 🙌 Verket fra 2016 har vi kjøpt i forbindelse med Kunstgavenprosjektet - en pengegave tildelt VKL av Sparebankstiftelsen DNB. Verket kan sees i kjelleren, som en del av årets hovedutstilling «Til deg». (Siste dag 26.september) Foto: @ninaansten . . . . #vkl #vestfossenkunstlaboratorium #ahmedumar #whatlasts #sarcophagus #samtidskunst #keramikk #sculpture #tildeg_kunstgaven #sparebankstiftelsendnb #kunstgaven2018 #kunstinorge #komogse #viken #øvreeiker"". Instagram. Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  12. ^ a b "Ahmed Umar: Grenseoverganger – ArtScene Trondheim" (in Norwegian Bokmål). Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  13. ^ "Ahmed Umar". Norske Kunsthåndverkere (in Norwegian Bokmål). Archived from the original on 23 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  14. ^ Abdessamad, Farah (8 December 2021). "Ibrahim Mursal's The Art of Sin". The Brooklyn Rail. Archived from the original on 23 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  15. ^ Msibi, Thabo (2011). "The Lies We Have Been Told: On (Homo) Sexuality in Africa". Africa Today. 58 (1): 55–77. doi:10.2979/africatoday.58.1.55. ISSN 0001-9887. JSTOR 10.2979/africatoday.58.1.55. S2CID 144208448. Archived from the original on 16 March 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  16. ^ "Ahmed Umar". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  17. ^ "Paintings Ahmed Umar". ahmedumar (in Norwegian Bokmål). Archived from the original on 26 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  18. ^ a b "Ahmed Umar Sculpture". ahmedumar (in Norwegian Bokmål). Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  19. ^ "Ahmed Umar Jewelry". ahmedumar (in Norwegian Bokmål). Archived from the original on 26 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  20. ^ "Ahmed Umar viser 365 hijabs og beskyttelsens kunst på Kunstnernes hus". PLNTY | kulturmagasinet (in Norwegian Bokmål). 6 March 2018. Archived from the original on 25 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  21. ^ a b "Forener norske og sudanske tradisjoner". Fabelaktig formidling (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 26 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  22. ^ "Utøvere under Øye På 2021 | Viken DKS". Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  23. ^ "INSPIRE Seminar Series: Identity, Alienation and Exclusion – a Conversation with Ibrahim Mursal – Peace Research Institute Oslo". www.prio.org. Archived from the original on 3 November 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  24. ^ "Å bære det stygge ansiktet". Oslo Art Guide. Retrieved 21 October 2022.[permanent dead link‍]
  25. ^ Mørch, Hilde. "Intervju med Ahmed Umar". kunstavisen.no (in Norwegian Bokmål). Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  26. ^ Subjekt (27 October 2018). "- Det tok meg lang tid å innse at jeg ikke var et dårlig menneske bare fordi jeg er homofil". Subjekt (in Norwegian Bokmål). Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  27. ^ "Åpning: Ahmed Umar "Carrying the face of ugliness"". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  28. ^ "Ahmed Umar Carrying the face of ugliness". Facebook. Archived from the original on 25 March 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  29. ^ a b c "Ahmed Umar, Sculpture – Nasjonalmuseet – Collection". Nasjonalmuseet. Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  30. ^ Umar, Ahmed (6 July 2019). "New York City Pride as seen by Ahmed Umar". Shado Magazine. Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  31. ^ "Tilnærmet magisk om retten til fornyelse – CAS". 11 January 2022. Archived from the original on 21 October 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  32. ^ Agenda: Kunst og demokrati - Part 7: Ahmed Umar, archived from the original on 26 October 2022, retrieved 26 October 2022
  33. ^ a b "Tilnærmet magisk om retten til fornyelse – CAS". 11 January 2022. Archived from the original on 21 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  34. ^ Artist portrait: Ahmed Umar - پورتريه فنان: أحمد عمر, archived from the original on 28 October 2022, retrieved 28 October 2022
  35. ^ a b "The Nile Pride 2030 عِزّة النيل". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on 21 October 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  36. ^ "Kunsten å være syndig". BIFF 2022 (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 21 October 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  37. ^ Elnæs, Caroline Ugelstad (21 June 2021). "Reiser hjem til Sudan". blikk.no (in Norwegian Bokmål). Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  38. ^ "Rovaniemi/Posio 2021 Conférences" (in French). Archived from the original on 21 October 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  39. ^ "Ahmed Umar, Glowing Phalanges; prayer beads 33 oversikt". Mynewsdesk (in Norwegian). 25 May 2022. Archived from the original on 25 October 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  40. ^ "Ahmed Umar". Norske Kunsthåndverkere (in Norwegian Bokmål). Archived from the original on 21 October 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  41. ^ "Ahmed Umar - Forbidden Prayers". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on 25 March 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  42. ^ "Kunstnerforbundet". Kunstnerforbundet. Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  43. ^ "Verdige prisvinnere under Kunsthåndverk 2017 i Trondheim". Norske Kunsthåndverkere (in Norwegian Bokmål). 17 October 2017. Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  44. ^ a b "Norwegian Crafts". Facebook. Archived from the original on 30 October 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  45. ^ "Interview with Umar - Nordenfjeldske Kunstindustrimuseum". nkim.no. Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  46. ^ "RESIDENCY AWARD". NOoSPHERE Arts. Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  47. ^ Tjook (TJOOK.COM) (27 June 2015), Ahmed Umar, archived from the original on 24 October 2022, retrieved 24 October 2022
  48. ^ 3. Ahmed Umar og Lotte Konow Lund (in Norwegian Bokmål), 9 December 2021, archived from the original on 21 October 2022, retrieved 21 October 2022
  49. ^ "Sandefjord Kunstforenings Kunstpris 2021". www.visitvestfold.com. Archived from the original on 21 October 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
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