Art of Stephanal Thakiy (South Sudanee Refugee Artist)

Mark Auslander, who teaches African Art and Anthropology at Brandeis, reflects on four paintings by the little know Southern Sudanese refugee artist, Stephanal Thakiy. The paintings present some interesting interpretive puzzles, especially in reference to gender symbolism. We are hoping that persons in the wider Sudanese community, or others, will join in attempts to understand these paintings, as well as art works by other artists in the African Refugee Artists Club. Through the South Sudanese Cultural Documentation Center, the M.A. Program in Cultural Production at Brandeis is partnering with the Sudanese Education Fund (the owner of these paintings) to preserve and interpret these important cultural artifacts. The painting "Between Worlds" was donated to the collection by Gary and Maryann Sachs.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Nuer
• African art
• Cultural Production
• Sudanese Education Fund
• gender in art.

[lisadeeleysmith]

So the impact of the a new culture arriving in a green car would certainly involve a new, sometimes uneasy, relationship with women.

I know a Turkana woman, and her life changed radically when Kakuma refugee camp opened. It's alarming to realize that a refugee camp can be improvement in a people's situation, but at Kakuma there was a chance for the neighboring Turkana to go to school and to receive health care where before there had been nothing. She represents the cultural struggle well.

[lisadeeleysmith]

I think it's an elder in the River Gilo, but I appreciate this painting for capturing the chaos and horror of the crossing with its slashing composition and colors that shout.

I think learning to relate in a new world is very entwined with how to relate to women in this new world. Traditional norms change depending where you are and who you're with. Do you treat a Sudanese woman in the village the same way you treat one at university? Can you treat a woman in the village the same anymore?

[lisadeeleysmith]

I understand these paintings better when I look at the whole work, rather than an item-by-item iconography, although I think most of your icongraphical interpretations are correct. "Back the Hard Life" seems to be the suffering of the Sudanese that does not end, with those who watch, some helping, some not, some fascinated by the pornography of suffering, with the protagonist clutching a cow horn for strength. (Next painting to follow.)

[manyiel]

I love the presentation, the audio quality seems to be low. I will try to watch on my home computer to check the sound quality once more.