By the United Nations
An Exhibition by The Future is Unwritten & UN75: Artists for Tomorrow
Khalid AlBaih is a Sudanese artist and political cartoonist, publishing his work on international blogs, social media and websites under the name Khartoon!, a word play on cartoon and Khartoum, the capital of Sudan.
Khalid AlBaih: Khartoon! by Khalid AlBaihthe United Nations
Khalid AlBaih is one of the most prolific political cartoonists in the world, publishing an artwork a day for the last 20 years. His work, a confluence of journalism and art, first came to prominence during the Arab Spring. As one of the most influential Arab cartoonists of his generation, Khalid champions freedom of expression in the around the world, commenting on subjects such as immigration, race, power, conflict and identity. His cartoons ask questions and spark conversations, transcending geographical borders and languages. Currently, Khalid aims to extend the reach and impact of his work by giving other artists in Sudan the resources and empowerment they need to make their own cartoons, and to focus on heath and healing after the trauma of protest and revolution.
Freedom (2019) by Khalid AlBaihthe United Nations
Freedom (2019) is an illustration by Sudanese Political Cartoonist Khalid AlBaih
Women Power (2019) by Khalid AlBaihthe United Nations
Revolution in Sudan
The name Sudan derives from the Arabic bilād as-sūdān (بلادالسودان) “the lands of the Black [people]”. It refers to the land where the two Niles meet and 74 languages are spoken; where the queens of the Nubian civilization dating from around 2,000 BC ruled their matriarchies, beating back the Romans and building around 255 pyramids — twice the number of pyramids in today’s Egypt. Thousands of years of trade and Hajj pilgrimage routes diversified the people, their cultures and traditions. It is the country that fought against Turkish, Egyptian and British colonisers, a country with impressive churches and mosques alike, a country famous for having had three revolutions in the past 62 years.
Stumbling is not Falling (2019) by Khalid AlBaihthe United Nations
Stumbling is not Falling
In 2019, Khalid hosted an exhibition entitled ' Stumbling is not Falling' at the end of his month-long Freedom residency in New York organised by Culturunners with ArtX and the Artists at Risk Connection (ARC). “This is a very important time for the Sudanese diaspora to communicate with international cities like New York. I feel a responsibility to stand up for those fighting for freedom and hope in my country. Despite the backlash, Sudanese pro-democracy groups have persevered in their peaceful resistance, sometimes paying with their lives. Despite the anger and pain of losing friends and family, there is no turning back and there is no changing direction at this point. As Malcom X advised, ‘Stumbling is not falling’ and it is now more important than ever for the international cultural and media community to amplify the voices of those fighting for their freedom on the ground.” – Khalid AlBaih
Sudan Retold by Sudan Retoldthe United Nations
Sudan Retold
Sudan Retold is an art book conceived by Khalid AlBaih about the history of Sudan told by 31 Sudanese artists. The revolution in Sudan has been televised by the international media. But outside the country, apart from the protests, little is known about the present and past of Sudan. In the illustrated book, Sudanese artists and creatives tell stories about the role of women, the art of Beja sword fighting, the diversity of languages and more, providing insights into their homeland.
The Story of Civil Rights is Unfinishedthe United Nations
The Story of Civil Rights is Unfinished
Khalid Albaih, travels from Washington, D.C. to Memphis, TN (via New York, NY and Houston, TX) exploring the shared struggle for human and civil rights between the Arab World and the United States. The journey culminates in Memphis with an event at the National Civil Rights Museum, located at the former Lorraine Motel, where civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968. This film was produced by Culturunners as part of The Guardian’s ‘Crossing the Line’ series.
Guns Vs Bullets (2013) by Khalid AlBaihthe United Nations
Guns vs. Bullets is an illustration by Sudanese Political Cartoonist Khalid AlBaih
The Revolution (2015) by Khalid AlBaihthe United Nations
The Art of Trauma
“Before we normalize body counts and internet blackouts, we need to prepare for the next stage of the fight: our emotional health. Our art needs to address our trauma, and push new conversations about how to heal as a society before we start planning our next sit-ins. Our resistance graffiti may not be pretty, and creating it is dangerous. It may not make the news. But we need it now for our own communities, to carve out that space in society to heal, so that we keep the revolution alive. We broke the fear once, and we will break it again.” - Khalid
The Army we Need (2020) by Khalid AlBaihthe United Nations
The Army We Need (2020) is an illustration by Sudanese Political Cartoonist Khalid AlBaih.
Food for Thought (2017) by Khalid AlBaihthe United Nations
Food for Thought (2017) is an illustration by Sudanese Political Cartoonist Khalid AlBaih.
Khalid AlBaih on CNN Inside the Middle East (2017) by Khalid AlBaih, CNNthe United Nations
Khalid on CNN Inside the Middle East
Khalid talks about being a social media cartoonist on CNN Inside the Middle East. His cartoons ask questions and aim to spark conversations, transcending borders and languages.
CAMP (2016) by Khalid AlBaihthe United Nations
CAMP (2016) is an illustration by Sudanese Political Cartoonist Khalid AlBaih.
We Come in Peace (2019) by Khalid AlBaihthe United Nations
We Come in Peace (2019) is an illustration by Sudanese Political Cartoonist Khalid AlBaih.
"How to get the other side on your side?" Khalid Albaih (2015) by Khalid AlBaih, Hague Talksthe United Nations
"How to get the other side on your side?"
Khalid Albaih asks how can he use freedom of speech as a political cartoonist? What does it mean to be an independent political cartoonist in the Arab world? How can he create conversations, not conflict online? Why is sharing cartoons so important in working towards peace?
Serena (2018) by Khalid AlBaihthe United Nations
Serena (2018) is an illustration by Sudanese Political Cartoonist Khalid AlBaih.
Power (2017) by Khalid AlBaihthe United Nations
Power (2017) is an illustration by Sudanese Political Cartoonist Khalid AlBaih.
Man Challenges Dictators And Draws Revolutions (2015) by Khalid AlBaih, Al Jazeerathe United Nations
Man Challenges dictators and draws revolutions
Khalid Albaih has challenged dictators and stereotypes with his political cartoons. Now he's bringing his art to the United States, opening his first show at the Arab American National Museum in Dearborn, Michigan.
Climate (2020) by Khalid AlBaihthe United Nations
Climate (2020) is an illustration by Sudanese Political Cartoonist Khalid AlBaih.
First Responders (2020) by Khalid AlBaihthe United Nations
First Responders (2020) is an illustration by Sudanese Political Cartoonist Khalid AlBaih.
The Power of Political Cartoons (2019) by Khalid AlBaih, The Newsmakersthe United Nations
The Power of Political Cartoons
For centuries political cartoons have sent powerful messages. French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte is believed to have said an English caricaturist did more than all the armies in Europe to bring him down. We spoke to Sudanese political cartoonist Khalid Albaih, whose sketches are gaining recognition for poking fun at the country's leadership.
Dropped Pin (2018) by Khalid AlBaihthe United Nations
Dropped Pin (2018) is an illustration by Sudanese Political Cartoonist Khalid AlBaih.
Home (2016) by Khalid AlBaihthe United Nations
Home (2016) is an illustration by Sudanese Political Cartoonist Khalid AlBaih.
Muslim cartoonist Khalid Albaih responds to the Charlie Hebdo attacks (2016) by Khalid AlBaih, Quartzthe United Nations
Muslim cartoonist Khalid AlBaih responds to the Charlie Hebdo attacks
Khalid’s cartoons comment on subjects from immigration to police brutality in America, and have been shared thousands of times. “For me, it’s not really about ‘I’m right’ or ‘you’re wrong.’ For me, it’s about ‘this is how I feel right now’ and ‘let’s talk about it.’” – Khalid AlBaih
Free Journalism (2018) by Khalid AlBaihthe United Nations
Free Journalism (2018) is an illustration by Sudanese Political Cartoonist Khalid AlBaih.
Artists for Tomorrow is organised by The Future is Unwritten in collaboration with UN75 and curated by Stephen Stapleton and Danielle Sweet. The exhibition is presented in partnership with the Open Mind Project.
The Future is Unwritten (TFIU) is an initiative by CULTURUNNERS and the World Council of Peoples for the United Nations (WCPUN) Arts & Culture Advisory Council, launched in 2020 in collaboration with UN75. As 2020 marks the beginning of the UN’s Decade of Action, TFIU facilitates urgent cooperation between the international Arts and Culture sector and the United Nations in order to accelerate implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
www.thefutureisunwritten.org
Special thanks to Jahan Rafai and Lisa Laskaradis, UN75; the Sudan Retold team; Asya Gorbacheva and Saheer Umar, Production Department; and Kuba Rudziński, Art Department.
All images courtesy of the artist.
