On Virtual Grounds

When we started our collaboration project, we saw an opportunity for both our communities in Libya and Sudan to be explored and observed artistically. We had the vision to exchange more than mere online conversations but on-ground explorations, to see beyond the screen how both communities live and interact daily. We had plans and itineraries that included visiting cultural centers, independent archives, and galleries, meeting up with artists and fellow collectives, and seeing for ourselves how communities occupy/utilise/operate on public spaces.

Unfortunately, due to major unexpected events that were out of our control, our vision and concepts were derailed entirely. We faced continuous power cuts, a military coup, and a total internet shutdown that isolated us from the participating artists and contributors in Sudan during the most critical point in our project timeline. Yet, having been through such unpredictable circumstances before, when we both learned how to operate in abnormal conditions that forced us to realise how artistic documentation can help us dissect and recount our narratives.

Therefore, we took this project as a challenge to share the various realities and perspectives of Libyan and Sudanese artists, researchers, writers, etc. As we went about learning the ways to achieve virtually what cannot -in our case- happen on the ground. While still expanding our network and connections that we hoped to build in physicality. We navigated those challenges by approaching the project as a challenge that can be tweaked and edited based on our context. Additionally, to have an open mindset while working with artists as they face exceptional circumstances and situations that require constant adjustments of plans and deadlines. As we went further with the project, as our respect, compassion, and understanding grew towards everyone involved in the making of this publication, including us. This project is a testament and a record for an amorphous, shapeshifting time in our lives, that kept changing us as we tried to make a change in our communities.