Canvas of Identity: The Art and Story of Khalid Shatta
7. des. 2024
Artist Khalid Shatta’s art reflects his journey – from growing up in Nuba mountain in South Kordofan of Sudan to seeking refuge in Norway. His experiences deeply influence his work, allowing him to explore themes of identity, heritage, history and resilience through his unique artistic lens.
We meet in his Studio at Sandvika, a basement apartment surrounded by colourful canvases. Amidst all the canvases surrounding us, it’s difficult to know where the conversation will start. But one thing is certain: every canvas, every finished painting, tells a story about him.
– What inspires you when creating? I start.
– Life. Life is the biggest inspiration for me. Being alive and living in this world is the core inspiration for my art and creativity – whether it’s drawing inspiration from history, nature or my personal experience as a human being. There is always something to be inspired by, good or bad. It’s all up to your understanding, Khalid Shatta reflects.
Early challenges and new beginnings
Khalid Shatta (35) describes himself as a visual artist who works in both painting and photography. He studied art at the Sudan University for Sciences and Technology in the faculty of Fine and Applied Arts. Nevertheless, he couldn’t finish his studies due to the growing political strike in his home country, Sudan. At the end of 2011, he arrived in Norway, seeking asylum and moving between cities as he settled into his new life. After being accepted to Prosjektskolen kunstskole, he moved to Oslo in 2018.
The experience of coming to Norway as a refugee, with no papers or understanding of the new language he was about to learn, was a profound challenge that shaped his worldview. Having spent 13 years in the country, Shatta now sees Norway as his “home”.
– The space I have here in Norway has opened a lot of doors for me to understand myself, our history and our struggle.
Shatta doesn't feel like the Norwegian art scene has significantly altered his creative approach when it comes to creating art but rather allowed him to engage with a wide range of artistic perspectives. – I believe the key is to understand different cultures. I can’t force someone to understand me and they can’t force me to understand them. But the power of art is that it’s a universal language.
Finding stability and peace in Norway has inspired him to create a safe space, allowing him to fully express the beauty he sees in this world through his work.
– I have gotten to know a lot of Norwegian artists, even the ones who have a completely different artistic view than me. Our art is different, but we’ve still managed to connect and that’s the beauty and power of art.
A month of resilience
This year’s Black History Month Norway theme, “Liberation and Imagination”, aligns with Shatta’s artistic exploration of his Sudanese roots. He captures the essence of this theme by saying:
– Black History Month holds a lot of pain and suffering. For some Black History Month is about the suffering and pain from slavery. For others, it's about the great culture of Africans all around the world, Shatta notes.
Despite the centuries of suffering, there is still a lack of understanding of who we Africans are and the Black experience. Still, for Shatta, Black History Month is a powerful reminder of how Black people use art and creativity as a means of “forgiveness”.
– Through time we’ve lost our history, our language and our resources, just because people have portrayed themselves as better. It’s hard for me to understand that one sees himself as superior to another human because, at the end of the day, we are all human, he adds.
Telling Sudan’s story
Shatta’s holistic view of art is a means of self-discovery and social change. Sudanese history is a major influence on his art, as he explains: – Being from such a diverse, historically significant country like Sudan provides me with endless creative fuel.
As a Sudanese artist navigating the Norwegian art scene, Shatta has found ways to bridge cultural differences through his collaborative work. He doesn't believe Sudanese history only belongs to the Sudanese alone. Instead, he sees it as a representation of the “contribution to a variety of cultures and people”.
– Engaging with this kind of rich history reminds me not to underestimate my place in the world.
Rather than reimagining historical narratives, he aims to present them as they truly are. Shatta wants to highlight the contributions of the Sudanese and Africans, challenging the historical narratives that often erase and hide these stories.
– My approach is to understand the history and that's a powerful thing itself. I’m not trying to say anything new or impose my vision. I’m just trying to reflect the history, putting it out there in my artistic way, he says.
Continuing the journey
As our conversation comes to a close, Khalid Shatta emphasises the importance of his art.
– I need people to understand one thing – my art is a reflection of my journey. It’s how I understand my journey in life. My paintings capture the time around me.
Shatta focuses on self-love and gratitude. By understanding his struggles, he believes he can connect with bigger issues.
– I prioritise learning how to love myself and appreciate my existence in the universe. When you see my suffering, you’ll want to help by understanding, Shatta says, suggesting that a meaningful form of help begins with empathy and connection through art.
Finally, to end the conversation I ask if he can tell me one word that describes his art:
– My authentic self, Khalid Shatta concludes.
