Nubian Series

In this series Rabab Tantawy explores the need of human nature to connect with heritage and community by taking as a matter of study the Nubian culture.

The ancient land of Nubia was lost with the building of the Aswan Dam and High Dam that created one of the largest man made fresh water reservoirs in Africa, Lake Nasser. This resulted in the displacement of The Nubian people, who used to inhabit the narrow floodplains of the Nile river. Nubians are a distinct ethnic group with their own culture and language that differs from both Egyptian and Sudanese culture.

Tantawy paints characters in white robes with white turbans - the distinctive dress of Nubians – sitting tightly together, symbolising community.

"A family meeting" 50x50cm Oil on canvas - Sold

Although at first glance we might think we are being told a history of the Nubian people alone, the artist is touching upon a situation that is omnipresent in today’s world. A story that can be told from many continents. How many populations got displaced be it by war, loss of land or financial instability? Even at an individual level, with today’s ease of travel we see more and more people uprooting from their homelands to find a better life somewhere else.

Most of the Nubians, after getting displaced moved to urban centres, leaving behind the slow paced and tranquil villages. After the industrial revolution this became a global trend, as more and more factory workers were needed, people left the villages to come to the cities. While city life provides its fair share of comforts, it brings a level of isolation. While in a village all the community knows each other and is engaging daily, city dwellers seldom know their neighbours. Community however is part of human nature and is not easily lost, as city dwellers are building communities based on professions, or similar preferences.

"Dispersed" 60X40cm Mixed media on canvas - Sold

At its height the Nubian world was the meeting point of the Mediterranean and the African world, and a land full of history. While predominantly Muslim today, Christianity played a significant role in the past, and before that there were the gods of ancient Egypt. Nubians preserved elements of their past in symbols present in their everyday lives. Crocodiles are used as talismans to ward off the evil eye. It’s not uncommon to see houses decorated with crosses sitting side by side with Quranic verses and talismans. This shows how a community can transform with time without forgetting its history. A community that kept alive the act of transmitting history through stories and legends while adapting to the changes of each turn of time. Today’s Nubians tell stories about their now lost homeland and villages, keeping them alive.

Nubians are also known for the vibrant colours in which they paint their houses. This vibrance is often incorporated in Tantawy's work who also found a way to bring her work into a form that transcends time. Her paintings look modern and ancient at the same time.

"The Family" 50x50cm Oil on canvas - Sold

Nubians are a lesson for today’s global population that suffers from uprooting both geographically and culturally. No matter where you are, and how the world is changing, find your community and keep your heritage alive while taking in the new world.

The Nubian Series