An Inspiring Artistic Visit to the Home of Shangal Hassan in Addis Ababa
A cultural and artistic visit to Dr. Shangal Hassan’s home studio in Addis Ababa, exploring art, identity, and human connection.
In Addis Ababa, we visited the home of Sudanese artist Shangal Hassan as part of the Every Place… Where Is the Beauty? project, in a rich experience of discovery and meaning.
This visit was part of the third session centered around a fundamental question:
Where do we truly find beauty and a sense of belonging?
From this question, we chose to seek the answer in a real and lived way leading us to the artist’s home, where we shared the experience with artists, refugees, and returnees from diverse backgrounds and nationalities. Through this, we discovered that beauty and belonging are not just theoretical concepts, but lived experiences shaped through connection and shared moments
The space was not merely a home or a studio, but a vibrant environment a space shaped by human connection and shared presence. It was hosted by Shangal, who welcomed us with generosity and openness, inviting us into his artistic world.
From the very first moment, the welcome was warm, refined, and full of respect. This presence made the visit more than just an encounter it became a genuine experience of connection.
We moved through the artworks not just as viewers, but as participants as we were stepping into them, experiencing their depth and emotion
Each piece carried a different story and feeling, transporting us from one world to another.
We also entered the artist’s studio, where we witnessed how artworks are created from the first idea to its final form.
It became clear that each artist sees beauty in their own way and expresses it uniquely.
Art is not just a result, but a full journey of feeling and expression. The experience of bringing together artists from diverse backgrounds showed us that beauty is not a fixed definition, but something shaped by different souls and experiences.
True beauty was found in the encounter itself.
This experience added a deeper dimension to how we see beauty from multiple perspectives not only in art, but in people, conversations, and simple human moments.
Even the smallest details glances, smiles, and passing words carried meaning and left a lasting impact.
At the end of the visit, as we gathered, shared conversations, and had coffee together, everything became clearer. The answer was not as complex as we had imagined, but present in that simple moment: Beauty is not something we search for in a place it lives within us, wherever we are, and reveals itself when we come together.
We the Shama team, sincerely thank Dr. Shangal Hassan for his generous hospitality and for welcoming us into his home and studio in Addis Ababa, making this artistic experience truly meaningful.