Notes

Born in Sudan, North Africa, Salim took refuge in the United Kingdom, Germany, Egypt, and South Africa because of a tumultuous political and economic period, before returning to his homeland. After artistic training at Khartoum University, he attained his master’s degree in Fine Art at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. His artwork, characterised by its abstraction in lively colours and patterns, explores themes of diaspora and living amongst multicultural communities. He has exhibited extensively overseas along with acclaimed local galleries, most recently Garden of Carnal Delights, a solo exhibition at The Melrose Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa in 2021.

"My art comes as abstraction because, for me, it is an act of life, tied to my personal narrative—one of a person who has lived through the unknown. The entire matter, this act of life, is like an open horizon to a captivating adventure. What has shaped my ever-evolving identity is a reality that compelled me to become an abstract visual artist.
Thus, my artistic drive is not merely the desire for creativity; art is not entirely a voluntary act. Rather, it is a source of a creative force born from the space between certainty and our simultaneous awareness of our tangible existence.
The idea alone, and nothing else, holds the power to venture far into the deepest realms of creativity. This is why I find myself primarily invested in free creativity, built on innovative ideas—the creation of work whose purpose is affirmed in its quest for freedom.

I am aware that the ideas behind my paintings today are in urgent need of a space where their echoes can transcend boundaries. I believe that it is not enough for an artist to see their works gaining attention and popularity. What matters more to me is seeing my works fertilize other ideas and, in turn, be fertilized by them. " - Hussein Salim

Provenance

Melrose Art Gallery, Johannesburg, 2021.

Private Collection.