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Ali (Abdelbagi) Shahto

Born Sudan, 1959

Lives and works in Zurich, Switzerland.

 

Started painting and graphic design in 1981. After a self-imposed exile to Switzerland in 1995, he started working volunteering as lawyer for Christian Solidarity International, and representative of Sudanese liberation Movement. Simultaneously revisited his art practice. Shahto's work is based on some of the old historical samples and findings of the Sudanese ancient Kingdoms, Meroë Kingdom and Kush Kingdom. He believes it is vital to highlight the importance in meaning of the symbols from the ancient kingdoms that also have been used in old Sudanese writings. Shahto focuses on cultural aspects that make use of traditional aspects of Kush Sudan cultures. He combines ancient samples and artefacts with contemporary materials in order to blur the boundary between “traditional” and “contemporary”. Shahto aims to explore the traditional Sudanese motives role in contemporary art. For example, the role of these traditions in weddings, healing the sick and grieving as well as use in the economical and political life as seen in social group settings in the crop fields during cultivation season. Shahto uses old cultural symbols to which he has a strong emotional and cultural connection to, which can be witnessed in his work. Shahto’s work looks at the way African Sudanese identities create a new a cultural objective.

 

Exhibitions

2020

Helmhaus Museum, Zurich- group exhibition

2019

Galerie Le Sud, Zurich - Solo exhibition

2016

 

Galerie Le Sud, Zurich, Switzerland

 

1999 – 2014

 

Galerie Cafe  Rorboz-kultur am wildbach  an der Töss

 

2013 - 2014

 

Oct Restaurant Braueri Pfaffikon-ZH

 

2013

 

Rorbas Cafe & Coulter, Zurich.

 

2013 

 

Galeri Rsheid Diyab Center,  Sudan

 

2005 - 2013

 

Restaurant Rempe Popikon -War in Darfur –Sudan

 

2003

 

Galerie der Erde, Arabic-Swiss Cultural Centre, Zürich

 

2000

 

Galerie der Erde, Arabic-Swiss Cultural Centre, Zürich

 

2000

 

Galerie Delphine, Zurich

 

1999

 

Galerie der Erde, Arabic-Swiss Cultural Centre, Zürich

 

 

1999

 

Amani Gallery, Stutgart

 

1999

 

Galerie Delphine, Zürich,Switzerland

 

1997

 

Restaurant Sonne, Uster

 

1997

 

Galerie Art N (group exhibition)

 

1997

 

Sokoto Gallery, New York

 

1995

 

Alliance Française

 

1990

 

The Goethe Institute, Khartoum

 

1990

 

German School, Addis Abeba, Ethiopia

 

1990

 

Greek School, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

 

1989

 

Art Exhibitions at the French Cultural Centre in Khartoum.

 

1987

 

College of Fine & Applied Arts, Khartoum Polytechnic, Sudan

 

1986

 

Meridian, Khartoum, Sudan

 

1985

 

Hilton Khartoum, Sudan

Liberated Land, Eritrea

 

 

 

Education

 

International Relations, Geneva School of Diplomacy. L.L.M. PHD

International Legal-study American University DC 2005. (MA)

International Business Law, Zürich University, Switzerland 2000. .L.L.M (MA)

Higher Diploma in International Relations, University of Khartoum, 1994.

Sudan Bar Association Certificate, 1993.

L.L.B., Cairo University, Khartoum Branch, 1987.

Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A) College of Fine & Applied Art, Khartoum Polytechnic 1985.

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