Sudanese painter and print-maker Mohammad Omar Khalil launches his artist’s book Season of Migration to the North, a homage to Sudanese writer Tayeb Salih’s novel of the same name. The artist will be in conversation with Atef Alshaer and Abed AlKadiri, co-founder of the book’s publisher Dongola Limited Editions.

Omar Khalil’s prints explore Salih’s 20th century masterpiece, a tale of migration from South to North and the pain of return. A cornerstone of postcolonial literature, the work explores the dynamics of interaction between so-called civilised and developing worlds, and interrogates the origin and validity of these notions.

Ten original etchings by Mohammad Omar Khalil depict scenes from Season of Migration to the North. The etchings are a visceral response to a work lodged deep within the artist’s memory.  Khalil’s works accompany a distinctive new edition of the Arabic novel, designed by Reza Abedini. Alongside the Arabic version sits a secondhand copy of its English translation, sourced from online retailers—a reference to the novel’s mobility and continued influence on East-West dialogues.

Mohammad Omar Khalil (1936 – ) was born in Khartoum, Sudan, lives and works in New York City. His work spans forty years of painting and print-making. Profoundly influenced by his travels throughout the Middle East and the art history of Europe, in his practice he searches for a dialogue between dissimilar cultures. His work has featured in numerous solo and group exhibitions internationally and is held in collections including the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art, Grenoble Museum in France, the Jordanian National Museum and the Brooklyn Museum of Art.

This event is hosted in partnership with The Mosaic Rooms and Dongola Limited Editions.

Please note, seats for this event are limited and are allocated on a first come first served basis.