A calm oasis

23 Sep 2009

A calm oasis

Entering a small, deep blue room with comfortable couches and a large painting of the same colour at the Rashid Diab Arts Centre in Khartoum, one cannot help but feel serenity and calm.

"Just sit down here for two to three minutes without talking," said general supervisor Shihab Abbas, "you will feel relaxed."

Not only the blue room flows with calmness, but distinct harmony can be felt across the centre, which was founded in 2005 in the northern capital's Gireif area.

Upon entering, visitors are greeted by plants in clay pots and trees guarding the walls, and the cream-coloured, balconied-buildings hint at Mediterranean architecture.

Sudanese painter and printmaker Rashid Diab spent 20 years in Spain, and the influence on his centre is clearly visible.

"The building bears Nubian, Spanish, Moroccan influences and North African elements, you can say," noted Mr. Abbas.

While touring the centre's five villas, which serve either as accommodation for guests attending international workshops from October through December or as galleries, one is amazed by rainbows that stained-glass windows in the ceiling create.

"Visitors come and copy some elements of the building," said the centre's supervisor with a smile. He added that some of the features were quite unusual in Sudan, including the bare wooden twigs serving as organic décor in the balconies overlooking the centre's courtyard.

Every corner catches the eye with another wondrous detail. After visiting the small souvenir store, one pauses under the green trees in the backyard to enjoy a bit of Mediterranean in Khartoum.

Besides annual workshops with Sudanese artists, the Rashid Diab Arts Centre runs forums in its large backyard with an open-air stage, houses arts exhibitions every two months and offers arts courses for children aged five to 15 every year during summer break, from May to July.

The centre will house the exhibition of Sudanese calligrapher and Sudan University School of Fine Arts dean Omar Drama from 13 September to 4 October.

Those interested in art theory can attend a workshop by Zaki Al-Maboren, a Sudanese artist based in Germany, from 13 to 15 October. Under the theme "The subject of art", attendees will learn about techniques and colour. Mr. Al-Maboren's work will be on display, and there will be a collective show of pieces created during the workshop.

For more information, visit www.rashiddiabartscentre.net.