Artists, architects and filmmakers in Sudan in particular are trying to preserve the democratic spirit of optimism that emerged after the fall of Sudanese dictator Omar al-Bashir in 2019. Digital and analogue private archives play an important role in this, documenting the diverse political and cultural events in the country during these years. In contrast to state archives, they also preserve evidence of human rights violations, conflicts and acts of resistance. In April 2023, the democratic movement came to an abrupt end and the hope for transformation was stifled. Since then, the battle between the Sudanese army (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has forced many millions of people to flee their homes.
As part of the Hamburg Short Film Festival, Larissa-Diana Fuhrmann curated the exhibition “Fragile traces: Archives in times of conflict” and moderated a panel discussion on the topic. The architect and designer Zainab Gaafar, Mohammed Munaf, manager of the archiving project “Sikka” initiated by the Goethe-Institut Sudan, and the photographer and filmmaker Eythar Gubara discussed the challenges associated with the protection and use of archives and their role in preserving cultural heritage and fostering a future characterised by diversity.
“In view of the current situation, artists have intensified their creative activities in order to document, preserve and share their views and experiences during the war and share them with the world. In doing so, they transform their experiences of direct and indirect violence and bring them closer to a broader public. Through photography, film, painting and other medias, they create fragile but profound testimonies that record narratives, emotions and truths that are crucial to preserving their nation's identity. The absence of independent journalists is compensated by the work of artists.” (Larissa-Diana Fuhrmann)
Larissa Fuhrmann has curated a number of exhibitions, published several books and articles in specialized journals, advised institutions and led workshops on critical curatorial practices and politically motivated art.