Going Downtown; The Downtown Gallery, Khartoum
This week’s post is the first of two celebrating a vibrant new Khartoum arts venue, The Downtown Gallery.
Meet the founder and inspiration behind the gallery, Abdulrahiem Shaddad, pictured below and in title photo, next month, in In Conversation with Rahiem.
Above, one of the gallery’s exhibition rooms.
Trek down the great bustling artery of central Khartoum; Qasr Al-Nil until it morphs into the relentless, dusty brown thoroughfare of Pio Yokwan Road. Just when you think it will go on for ever, the road stops dead in a shock of welcome green as it hits the leafy walls of the Qurashi Gardens. Just before the gardens, turn left into 57th Street; one of those gentle sandy backwaters of a street the capital is full of; all low tree-shaded homes and terracotta water jars for the passer-by. There you will find another unexpected oasis; The Downtown Gallery.
Sponsored by Sol for Change and originally based at the Downtown Hotel & Business Centre, the gallery showcases the work of gifted young Sudanese artists and provides a space for creativity and innovation for Khartoum’s artistic community. A community facing multiple challenges.
More on the gallery and its founder’s story in:
The Art Experience – Tony Malik
Below, one of the works exhibited at the gallery summer 2022; a work by Mohammed Ahmad Almahadi (personal collection).
See more of his work in:
Below, some of the Gallery’s recent collaborative events:
Below, just some of the stunning work by contemporary artists recently exhibited at the gallery.
More on the women artists featured next month.
Women's literacy in Sudan 
Fantastic artworks. The gallery sounds wonderful
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Many thanks for your comment, dear Simon. Yes, indeed – really interesting works.
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Finding art in Sudan is so difficult. This is a wonderful find and your directions to the gallery are so clear. Definitely on my target list for when I visit Khartoum next year (DV!). There used to be a lovely open air art market on the fence of the National Museum, facing the Nile, but that’s all gone with the current troubles.
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Thank you so much for your comments, John. I do hope you manage to return to Khartoum, inshallah, next year. Yes, I remember the lovely open air market at the National Museum. I bought works there. You might enjoy these posts – one of the artists I met there.
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Thanks Imogen. I have a couple of small pieces of coffee art by Mutaz! and a couple by another artist, signed Esnaa or Eshaa. Wonderful that as an artist they are not held back by lack of paints or costly painting materials. I bought them outside the museum.
My hope is to be back in Khartoum in February.
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