Whether it's on a wall or the page, we love Alaa's sharp, graphic illustration style. Her murals helped motivate protesters in the recent Sudanese revolution; beyond looking amazing, her work lends a voice to those around her.
You started out last year with a goal of doing one mural, even if it was just a wall on your bedroom. Clearly it turned out that you really surpassed that goal! Can you give us a little background about the logistics of street art and murals, especially as a form of political activism? How you choose locations, when the ideal time is, what specific message you decide to broadcast…?
Street art is a creative outlet that I’ve always been fascinated it by; it’s art claiming and taking up space loudly, boldly and unapologetically which makes it perfect for political and social activism. My first mural was during the Sudanese revolution and the messages I chose to send were clear to me from the start: I wanted to document and celebrate the women of the revolution. In a place like Sudan, where taking space as women always comes with a long set of challenges, being part of a revolution was extra challenging for us, and I wanted..art that spoke to us and was equally bold on how it occupied that space. I chose to place my work in neighborhoods that had a significant role during the uprising as a tribute to them mainly, but also because of the support my work got in these areas.
What are some of your favorite sources of inspiration? Could be other artists, music, a way you unplug…anything!
I’m gonna give you the cliché answer but honestly inspiration is everywhere. I find it while listening to my favorite very random playlist featuring artists like Sona Jubarteh or Sudanese artists like Zahraman and Asha al Falateya, or by taking long walks…I find inspiration in conversations, in people watching, in culture…it’s really everywhere.
Your sister is also a talented artist, and while you have some overlap thematically, it’s interesting to see the different approaches you take. Do you collaborate at all? How’s that sibling rivalry?
We get that question a lot [Editor’s note: oops]—whether we collaborate or not—and we actually never did. We have completely separate practices and different styles and ways of working. Nevertheless it was always nice to have an artist sister and I think growing up watching her draw and make art influenced me in a way.
Alaa Satir
How do you see your personal role in the Sudanese revolution? Was your work always politically focused? We know you did some amazing murals during and after the protests last year—where do you see your work going next?
My role was like many other artists, using our craft to document some truly historical moments while trying to keep the momentum going in a very long and exhausting fight. This revolution allowed me to get outside of my comfort zone when it comes to my work and this is something I plan to keep on doing, exploring different medias and techniques and enjoying the process instead of stressing so much about the outcome. My work is more socially focused than politically focused, and even during the revolution I think it advocated for the social revolution more than the political one. But even though I wouldn’t identify myself as a political cartoonist, it’s still a topic that I might have an opinion about and might express those opinions in my work.
BTW
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Could you tell us a bit about how you became an artist? Was it something you always knew you wanted to do?
It was. I knew I’d end up being in a creative field early on, and I remember I told my father I wanted to grow up and be an artist when I was around 7 or 8. Funnily enough…I didn’t start taking it seriously until I graduated university.
What’s your most-used tool? Is your process heavily digital, or by hand?
I relied heavily on digital mediums at first because I was learning the software and enjoying what came out of it, but now I’m having more fun exploring other traditional mediums— acrylic and ink on paper—and I enjoy turning my designs into chairs, cushions and t-shirt designs which is something I definitely plan to do more of in the future.
Photo by Abdelsalam Alhaj
How would an art director get the best out of you—what gives your client work the same energy as your personal work? Are there any red flags you notice when someone reaches out about a project?
I like to be challenged even if it stresses me out a bit, so art directors who push me out of my comfort zone while still allow me the freedom I need to create will get the best out of me for sure. I like to have clients I can easily bounce ideas out of, clients who have a sense of what they want but still trust me enough to give my own creative input, so I think a red flag would be a client who treats me like a tool to execute his own creative ideas instead of trusting my vision. …Before you hire a designer make sure you are a fan of their work—it’s much more than mastering[some] software.
