As a result of the socio-political unrest caused by the First and Second Sudanese Civil Wars, Hussein Salim, along with million others, was forced to flee his native Sudan and spend a number of years as a refugee in countries like Egypt and South Africa. His work, characterised by its use of vibrant colours, the layering of intricate patterns and the impasto painting technique, describes his journey of displacement while celebrating his homeland’s diversity and multicultural communal root. Salim received an initial artistic training at the University of Khartoum, which he later complemented with further studies at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, graduating with a master’s degree in art. His most recent exhibition at Eclectica Contemporary, Sudan’s Phoenix People, reflected the ongoing regional upheaval and celebrated the resilience of activists in the face of despotic regimes. In addition to his artistic practice, Salim also works closely with NGOs such as African Angels and the Buccaneers Outreach Programme, focusing on children’s education with proceeds of his artwork sales being donated to various outreach schemes.