Of Roots and Routes

Of Roots and Routes

Curated by Frédérique Cifuentes, Of Roots and Routes brings together Sudanese women artists working across the diaspora. The exhibition is a tribute to contemporary women artists who, despite displacement, remain committed to preserving and expressing Sudan’s visual culture. Through painting, textiles, installation and more, their work embodies resilience, memory, and transformation—contributing meaningfully to an evolving narrative that spans generations and geographies. The artists have remained deeply connected to their roots, using their practices to assert resilience, confront loss, and reclaim narrative power in exile.

Artists in exile are vital cultural guardians, using their work to preserve memory, resist erasure, and keep the spirit and identity of their homeland alive across borders. Contributors reflect on themes of identity, belonging, history, and transformation, while drawing inspiration from across Sudan—from Nubian visual heritage and calligraphic traditions to the ceramics of Darfur and other regional aesthetics that shape the nation’s rich artistic tapestry. Sudan’s visual arts have long been intertwined with social movements—sparking vital artistic dialogues, resisting oppression, and generating diverse creative forms.

Contributing Artists:

Fayrouz Omer

Nasra Mamoun

Omeima Mudawi-Rowlings MBE

Aisha Hussein Shariffe

Stefania Indelicato