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Art of the Hong Kong and Sudan protests

This week, the Cultural Frontline shares stories of artists creating work at a time of protest in Hong Kong, Sudan and the Balkans.

This week, the Cultural Frontline shares stories of artists creating work at a time of protest.

As Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests enter their third month we speak to the theatre director and actor Billy Sy about how the world of arts and theatre are responding to a city in political turmoil.

When protesters staged a momentous sit-in at Sudan’s Military Headquarters in Khartoum, an explosion of brightly coloured protest art appeared on the city’s walls and soon afterwards the nation’s leader, President Omar Al-Bashir was ousted. Two artists present at that historic moment in Khartoum were the Sudanese film maker and activist Hajooj Kuka and the painter Maie Hassan. Hajooj and Maie explain the significance of that art, which was later erased when the sit-in was broken up following a deadly crackdown by the military.

It started as a protest movement at the end of the Yugoslav wars but became a festival that reshaped the future of the Balkans. Festival promoter Dusan Kovacevic charts the history of Exit Festival.

Presented by Tina Daheley

Image: A Sudanese protestor walks in front of a recently painted mural during a protest outside the army complex in the capital Khartoum on April 20, 2019. Credit: OZAN KOSE/AFP/Getty Images

Available now

27 minutes

Last on

Sun 4 Aug 2019 21:06GMT

Broadcasts

  • Sat 3 Aug 2019 01:32GMT
  • Sat 3 Aug 2019 17:32GMT
  • Sat 3 Aug 2019 19:32GMT
  • Sun 4 Aug 2019 10:32GMT
  • Sun 4 Aug 2019 21:06GMT

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