ACC explores legacy of Sudanese artist, Ahmad Shibrain

May 31, 2025 / 9:44 PM

Sharjah 24: Professor Ahmad Shibrain (1931–2017), an artist from Sudan, was the focus of a tribute night hosted by Sharjah's Arab Cultural Club (ACC).
In the presence of notable artists, past pupils, and art aficionados, the session featured a lecture by Dr Saad Al-Din Abdel Hamid and was chaired by calligrapher Taj Al-Sir Hassan. The club's chairman, Dr Omar Abdulaziz, was also there.

Shibrain’s legacy
When it came to Arabic calligraphy and graphic design, Taj Al-Sir introduced Shibrain as an innovator. He was the dean of the fine and applied arts faculty at Sudan University of Science and Technology before becoming a professor of graphic design there. He attended art schools in Sudan and London before helping to build the Khartoum School of Art. Shibrain was honoured by both Sudan and the ruler of Sharjah for his work, which includes designing banknotes for the country and public artwork in Jeddah.

Harmony between tradition and modernity
Dr. Saad Al-Din's paper "Tuned Letters and Colourful Memories" traced Shibrain's journey, beginning with his early schooling in Qur'anic schools, where he formed a profound bond with Arabic letters. His artworks served as a link between native Sudanese, Arab, and Islamic traditions and modern graphic design, bringing together many artistic currents.
Shibrain's approach was based on staring at pictures. Inspired by organic shapes in nature, such as branches and clouds, Shibrain was able to transform and reinterpret components, particularly Arabic characters, into unique visual compositions. His early black-and-white works were characterised by a spare minimalism that emphasised simplicity and directness.

Critical acclaim and artistic influence
Regarding Shibrain, Dr. Saad Al-Din cited several critics from Sudan and Arab countries; one of them was Maha Sultan, who described him as a "pioneering calligraphic artist" who combined Arabic calligraphy with visual techniques from Africa. Critics praised his compositions for their cultural authenticity, profundity, and simplicity.

Sudanese cultural identity
With an emphasis on "Sudanese cultural identity" informed by Qur'anic school experiences and different visual traditions, Dr Omar Abdulaziz underlined in his statements that Shibrain's works mirrored this. His use of clashing colours and earth tones exemplified his creative yet grounded approach to visual storytelling.