Visual art meets contemporary storytelling at SFAL 2026

January 16, 2026 / 7:56 PM

Sharjah 24: At the second edition of the Sharjah African Literature Festival (SFAL), the accompanying art exhibition gives visitors a chance to see how African visual arts interact with contemporary storytelling. The gallery is filled with works from several African artists, each exploring identity, memory, and place in very different ways.

Alemayehu Biratu's paintings appear across the space, using layers of colour and both vertical and horizontal brushstrokes. Many of his pieces hint at land, water, and open skies. In the same exhibition, Berhan Asmamaw presents bold, abstract paintings. His work features sharp lines and overlapping shapes, with colours that clash and draw attention to every detail.

Girma Seboka’s work is rich with symbolism. Geometric patterns and African decorative motifs dominate his pieces, reflecting folk memory and traditional clothing. Fasil Assefa takes a more tactile approach, using repeated shapes, textures, and autumnal shades. Meanwhile, Hailegabre Nioussie captures everyday life and social change, using an expressive, straightforward style that makes the scenes feel immediate.

The exhibition shows that SFAL is more than just literature. By bringing storytelling into conversation with painting, it highlights Africa as a place of many voices and creative styles. Visitors can see how different artists interpret similar themes in their own ways, making the exhibition both lively and personal.