Tahir was a strange, taciturn, wonderful person, prone to disappearing without warning. He either sold his paintings for exorbitant prices or gave them away. He was something of a legend among the artists in Sudan, and his style was enormously influential.
I later visited him in Addis Ababa, and traveled with him and an Australian friend to the Blue Nile Falls and Gondar. I heard rumors that he went to London, and then San Francisco. Unlike many of the other Sudanese artists I met, he seems to have little web presence. With the assistance of Ray Dirks, I have gathered here the few images I could find. I'm hoping that Google might bring Tahir aficionados to this post. If anyone out there knows anything about Tahir, please let me know . . .
UPDATE
According to the comments and emails I've received after posting this, Tahir is - or was until fairly recently - living in Iowa, and is still doing art (some of which incorporates chains!). You can see some blurry pictures here. Be sure to read the beautiful poem on Tahir by Abdulmuniem Rahmat Allah, and check out commenter Gassim Abdelkader's wonderful paintings on his website.
UPDATE - May 23, 2022
According to an anonymous commenter, Tahir died on May 20, 2022, in Ottumwa, Iowa. Sad news.
Altahir Bushra- Thus He's Named
ReplyDeleteDiscreet
Restive in body
Never really you know:
Withdrawing into his shadow
Or multiplying unto his sun?
He holds on waving hands- optic order-
Exorcizing evil
And falling into acts of suspicion
Eyes gently soliciting
With earth reposes
Snatching colour in a twinkle of heart
Him soul searchingly contemplate:
A Poem By: Abdulmuniem Rahmat Allah
[Translated by: Ibrahim Jaffar- 1995- revised on February 2007]
...............
I am his colleague and a friend of him, I think last time I have heard about him that he living in Ottumwa city there is some petroleum station some Mexican who knowing better in information in the area and then after you crossing a river if you ask I think you will find him a hope so
m.o. al jack
mohannam@hotmail.com
this link may help
http://sudan-forall.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=741&highlight=%D8%C7%E5%D1+%C8%D4%D1%EC&sid=250fa48afca4dadbc3558dff5b3ebdb9
Dear Keith
ReplyDeleteThank you for this wonderful reflections on Tahir Bushra´s work.I was a close friend of him before we all migrated long time ago.His work has always been special, poetic and dramatic as the artist himself. I have been trying to get hold of Tahir since 1989 when I last saw him and I managed to get hold of a group of his former friends: Hassan Ahmmed Alnagar, Mohmaed Mahjoub, Ismail Abdulhafize Ibrahim and myself Gassim Abdelkader.
Today I got to know that he is in Iawa in the US and Mahjoub has seen him few month ago :)
I will let you know if I manage to get hold of him :)
Best regards
Gassim Abdelkader
http://www.gassim-art.com/
Email:gassim@gassim-art.com
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/gassimgassim
Dear Keith,
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad I decided to google Tahir's name in the hope that I might find out any information about him. I too met him in Asmara in the early 90's and have been looking for him since he left. He is an incredible artist and his work is truly exquisite. I looked for information about him a long time ago but never found out much about his whereabouts. I feel blessed to have some of his pieces and will always remember him as an amazing and generous spirit. Thanks, Elsa.
Hello Keith! I know this was written a while ago but my name is Seham Murad and Tahir is my older brother. Maybe we could get in touch to speak about him!
ReplyDeleteHi Seham - Sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you! I'm afraid I don't spend much time checking my blog. I'd be very interested in what Tahir's up to. Feel free to email me at keithryanmiller@gmail.com
DeleteI knew your brother. He was a angel in my life. I never got the chance to tell him thank you. He is saving the lives of me and my children.
Deleteسهام انا صديق الطاهر ...رسلي لي تلفونك ضروري
DeleteRIP my dear friend Eltahir. He passed away on 05/20/2022 in Ottamwa Iowa.
ReplyDeleteEl-Tahir was a free spirit with a very kind heart. He was also one of the wisest men I’ve ever talked to. Whenever I was upset, he would always seem to have the perfect advice for any type of situation. He once did an art exhibit in the yard of the Ottumwa Library, which he dedicated it to me for being a breast cancer survivor. I’m going to miss him very much.
ReplyDeleteSo sad find out about him passed away last week 😢 never knew his real name but his nickname is Ty, he is very good guy and several times Ty helps us do garden and set up backyard gates very nice job! He did paint pictures on both side of square for my daughter's b'day present. Ty loves houseplants a lots and outside his backyard landscape and lots plants, miss him already a lots! Glad to get know him
ReplyDeleteVery sad to hear about Tahir very nice person I met him in Asmara he was my family neighbor he teach me his Art 1994
DeleteI was talking with Ty up until his passing. Have so much love for him. Will never forget the time and lessons I learned from My Teacher, and Love.
ReplyDeleteThanks to this blog I could get the sad news about Tahrir’s death. Actually I was (maybe) the first person who recognised his talent and promoted his art in Asmara. Together with the director of the Alliance Francaise we organised many exhibitions for him, and they were always sold out. We then helped him to move to Addis Abeba, since he deserved a wider cultural context. Once there he unfortunately was involved in political questions detached from his activity (he was absolutely guiltless) and spent some months in jail. Meanwhile, I suggested him to partecipate in a call by Unesco to obtain a scholarship in the USA. And he got it! He moved to Los Angeles, got a job as a clerk in a shop and tried to promote his art there. He had many disappointments and disappeard. After some years of research, I found him on fb under the name of Shierrah Osly. I contacted him but I found a man totally discouraged and disillusioned. He told me that he had given up with painting. I keep the memory of a very sensitive guy, humble and unaware of his talent. He deserved more! R.I.P dear, dearest friend!
ReplyDeleteThis comment so disturbing to me. El Tahir was an amazing artist and he understood the value of his art and the messages held in it. He was very good friend of mine in USA for nearly 20 years. Never wold I ever described him as you have. Is disrespect and far from the truth. El Tahir shared his art with those close to him. Was never a issue with El Tahir but rather how he was received by society thru out his travels. Also is beyond disrespectful for you to be on here post death telling his life history. No wonder he close to stay close to few. I will speak for him now that he has no voice. El Tahir story far differs from the one you have written and history of The Nuba tribes also tell different version. El Tahir was there in a time where there was great effort being made to erase the culture and his art showcased old ways and wisdom in its message which made him a target. He spoke of what you call " prison" was a refugee camp in Ethiopia. He also spoke of the award and the attached gift he never received because he was in the refugee camp and found out a year later. He was part of a preservation effort made by the United States and when he arrived he worked at a women's shelter that was undergoing construction. He spoke of those times, was absolutely biggest disgrace I have seen to welcome a legend the way the United States welcomed him. And I can say that El Tahir was full of strength far beyond what most would ever develop. And to be honest if you spent years searching for him to speak as you have you did not deserve to know how beautiful he grew up to be. He was amazing and those of us close to him got to enjoy sharing in the joy when he created and share in how beautiful his heart.
DeleteSorry, I was mistaken: he moved to San Francisco ( maybe Berkeley) not Los Angeles…
ReplyDeleteHe did move to Los Angeles and lived/worked/painted there 1998-1999, I was his friend during that time
ReplyDeleterest in peace.... much gratitude for his role in my life
ReplyDeletehe moved to Berkeley in late 1999 and exhibited in San Francisco while living there, and he moved to Ottumwa in 2000
ReplyDeleteI was in contact with him until his final night and his spirit was in good position. Never once did I hear him say he gave up on art. He gave up on inviting others into his private life. He was an amazing artist, I know he was still enjoying creating in 2021 when he completed abstract of my body and gifted it to a good friend of his. El Tahir was completely aware of how gifted he was and wise enough to know not many would understand his work. He was always a great friend to me and great source of inspiration and wisdom. El Tahir opened up to those he loved and trusted and valued his privacy.
ReplyDelete