Mahmoud Elmardi

Mahmoud Elmardi, a Sudanese visual artist and novelist, specializes in drawing and printmaking. He holds a BA in Fine Arts from the College of Fine and Applied Arts, University of Sudan, and exhibits his work regionally and nationally. His artwork blends abstraction and landscape painting, resulting in vibrant and imaginative scenes that encapsulate the complexities of our surroundings into essential shapes and patterns. Through expressive and suggestive drawing techniques, Mahmoud delves into the energy, impressions, memories, and associations within our environments, offering viewers a new perspective to explore and appreciate.

Art4You Gallery https://www.art4you.gallery/en/works/paint/figurative-painting/mahmoud-elmardi

Artist’s Statement

My creative experience, spanning both painting and writing, is shaped at the crossroads of my deep Sudanese roots and global influences acquired through travel and exposure. I consider myself a product of the cultural richness of Khartoum Bahri, the area where I grew up, and it is from this environment, rich in history and human struggle, that I draw most of the threads for my novels and the colors for my canvases.

In my work, visual art and novel writing represent two sides of the same coin; both are tools to explore the essence of identity and belonging within a changing global context. I constantly strive to offer a unique perspective that honors Sudanese heritage while engaging in dialogue with contemporary human issues.

In Visual Arts

For me, a painting is not merely a depiction but a space for expressing complex emotions and intricate details. My professional background in fields requiring precision and focus, such as silk screen printing and dental technology, has instilled in me a deep appreciation for craftsmanship and control over the medium. These qualities are reflected in my attention to compositional structure and the texture of color. I seek beauty in contradictions and aim to convey powerful visual narratives, as seen in the work selected for the English novel cover of Cities of Boredom, where symbolism meets reality.

In Literary Arts

I view the novel as an essential window for deep exploration into the heart of society. My works, such as The Secret of the Chisel (a blend of tragedy and classical romance) and Lost in the Mango Orchards (which documents communal biography and the suffering of street children), reflect my commitment to telling honest human stories. I am driven by a desire to document marginalized experiences and highlight the struggle for survival and identity, especially in conflict zones, a theme I will further explore in my upcoming historical novel, Guernica, which traverses Rwanda, Tanzania, and Sudan.

My goal is for my works, whether in color or word, to serve as a bridge for cultural dialogue. Through visual art exhibited in international biennials like Lima and the Vienna Art Festival, and through literature showcased in major venues like the Cairo International Book Fair, I strive to present an authentic and active Sudanese voice in the global artistic and literary scene.