How The Protests Changed Street Art in Sudan?

Published April 29th, 2019 - 07:44 GMT

The once-grey walls close to the complex, where thousands of protesters remain encamped, are full of large clenched fists and victory signs symbolic of the popular uprising that ended the rule of Omar Bashir.

Sudanese graffiti artist Amir Saleh painted murals made by his team during a protest near the army headquarters in the capital, Khartoum. 

With the fall of the veteran leader of the country, Sudan's long stifled graffiti artists are finally able to express their art, painting the country's revolution in murals and portraits flourishing across the walls of Khartoum. 

Inspired by the months-long protest movement that finally toppled the now ex-president on April 11, several artists are using the walls of the army headquarters as canvas.

For years such artwork remained underground amid censorship imposed by heavy-handed security agents, who considered it anti-establishment or pure vandalism.

But artists say everything changed on April 6, when thousands of protesters broke through security cordons and massed outside army headquarters.
 

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Sudanese graffiti artist Amir Saleh poses in front of a recently painted mural made by his team during a protest near the army headquarters in the capital Khartoum (AFP)

A Sudanese protester walks past a recently painted mural during a demonstration near the army headquarters in the capital Khartoum (AFP)

Sudanese protesters sit in front of a recently painted mural during a demonstration near the army headquarters in the capital Khartoum OZAN KOSE / AFP

Sudanese graffiti artist Belal Abdelrahaman sits in front of a recently painted mural made by his team during a protest near the army headquarters in the capital Khartoum OZAN KOSE / AFP

The overthrow of Bashir have inspired the graffiti artists (Twitter)

Sudanese protesters paint a graffiti during a "million-strong" march outside the army headquarters in the capital Khartoum. ASHRAF SHAZLY / AFP

Sudanese protestors sit in front of a recently painted mural during a protest outside the army complex in the capital Khartoum OZAN KOSE / AFP

Sudanese protestors walk in front of a recently painted mural during a protest outside the army complex in the capital Khartoum. OZAN KOSE / AFP

Sudanese graffiti artist Amir Saleh poses in front of a recently painted mural made by his team during a protest near the army headquarters in the capital Khartoum (AFP)
A Sudanese protester walks past a recently painted mural during a demonstration near the army headquarters in the capital Khartoum (AFP)
Sudanese protesters sit in front of a recently painted mural during a demonstration near the army headquarters in the capital Khartoum  OZAN KOSE / AFP
Sudanese graffiti artist Belal Abdelrahaman sits in front of a recently painted mural made by his team during a protest near the army headquarters in the capital Khartoum  OZAN KOSE / AFP
The overthrow of Bashir have inspired the graffiti artists (Twitter)
Sudanese protesters paint a graffiti during a "million-strong" march outside the army headquarters in the capital Khartoum. ASHRAF SHAZLY / AFP
Sudanese protestors sit in front of a recently painted mural during a protest outside the army complex in the capital Khartoum OZAN KOSE / AFP
Sudanese protestors walk in front of a recently painted mural during a protest outside the army complex in the capital Khartoum. OZAN KOSE / AFP
Sudanese graffiti artist Amir Saleh poses in front of a recently painted mural made by his team during a protest near the army headquarters in the capital Khartoum (AFP)
Sudanese graffiti artist Amir Saleh poses in front of a recently painted mural made by his team during a protest near the army headquarters in the capital Khartoum (AFP)
A Sudanese protester walks past a recently painted mural during a demonstration near the army headquarters in the capital Khartoum (AFP)
A Sudanese protester walks past a recently painted mural during a demonstration near the army headquarters in the capital Khartoum (AFP)
Sudanese protesters sit in front of a recently painted mural during a demonstration near the army headquarters in the capital Khartoum  OZAN KOSE / AFP
Sudanese protesters sit in front of a recently painted mural during a demonstration near the army headquarters in the capital Khartoum OZAN KOSE / AFP
Sudanese graffiti artist Belal Abdelrahaman sits in front of a recently painted mural made by his team during a protest near the army headquarters in the capital Khartoum  OZAN KOSE / AFP
Sudanese graffiti artist Belal Abdelrahaman sits in front of a recently painted mural made by his team during a protest near the army headquarters in the capital Khartoum OZAN KOSE / AFP
The overthrow of Bashir have inspired the graffiti artists (Twitter)
The overthrow of Bashir have inspired the graffiti artists (Twitter)
Sudanese protesters paint a graffiti during a "million-strong" march outside the army headquarters in the capital Khartoum. ASHRAF SHAZLY / AFP
Sudanese protesters paint a graffiti during a "million-strong" march outside the army headquarters in the capital Khartoum. ASHRAF SHAZLY / AFP
Sudanese protestors sit in front of a recently painted mural during a protest outside the army complex in the capital Khartoum OZAN KOSE / AFP
Sudanese protestors sit in front of a recently painted mural during a protest outside the army complex in the capital Khartoum OZAN KOSE / AFP
Sudanese protestors walk in front of a recently painted mural during a protest outside the army complex in the capital Khartoum. OZAN KOSE / AFP
Sudanese protestors walk in front of a recently painted mural during a protest outside the army complex in the capital Khartoum. OZAN KOSE / AFP

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