SOUTH SUDAN / UN DAY ART EXHIBITION

On United Nations Day, University of Juba students bring a new vision for South Sudan to life through art. UNMISS

• Video Length: 00:06:31
• Production Date: 29 October 2024
• Asset Language: English; Arabic
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS MISSION IN SOUTH SUDAN – UNMISS
• Subject Topical: ART WORKS
• Geographic Subject: SOUTH SUDAN
• MAMS Id: 3293219
• Parent Id: 3293219
• Alternate Title: unifeed241029d

Description

STORY: SOUTH SUDAN / UN DAY ART EXHIBITION
TRT: 06:30
SOURCE: UNMISS
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / ARABIC / NATS

DATELINE: OCTOBER 24, 2024, JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN

Shotlist

1. Wide shot, art students dancing to music
2. Close up, feet dancing
3. Med shot, students dancing to music
4. Wide shot, Martha Isaac getting seated and painting
5. Various shots, Martha painting
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Martha Isaac, University of Juba fine arts student:
“We free our fears out, we free our shyness out, so we dance and enjoy. That day was really an amazing day, just like our first day in the University of Juba.”
7. Wide shot, pan right, students painting in their art studio
8. Med shot, student painting then assessing his painting
9. Med shot, student opening jar of paint
10. Various shots, student painting initial strokes
11. Close up, different colors of paint
12. Various shots, Martha and other students
13. Wide shot, exterior, painting students in studio
14. Wide shot, art pieces displayed at an exhibition on UN Day even at Juba University
15. Various shots, people looking at displayed works and taking photos
16. Close-up, paintings
17. Wide shot, more of exhibition
18. SOUNDBITE (English) Martha Isaac, University of Juba fine arts student:
“Building a better future is when we work together, we put our hands together, we support each other, forgetting the cultures, the tribe we came from, forgetting our colours, at least we can build a better future.”
19. Various shots, paintings on display
20. Various shots, overall winning painting
21. SOUNDBITE (English) Selim Juma, University of Juba fine arts student:
“I was inspired by peace, and I believe in peace. If you look at the painting – if you look at the colors – they are bright colors the colors – the colors of hope, the colors of peace. When you look at the flag - it is light blue - sky blue -the colors of the United Nations – which is also an organization that promotes peace and preserves peace.”
22. Various shots, people looking at paintings
23. Various shots, third winner Arwia signing off on her painting
24. Various shots, people looking at her painting
25. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Arwia Ifag, University of Juba fine arts student:
“The idea that came to me was - why are there no local industries or solar powered systems in South Sudan? Why don’t we have local productions here? These are the basic things we as a country should have in South Sudan. We need things made in South Sudan – but there is nothing. That is why I painted this – with the hope that we can achieve this.”
26. Various shots, students looking at their works as they progress with their paintings

Storyline

Finding inspiration in the joy of music and dance. Martha Isaac and her fellow University of Juba art students broke through their fears and artistic insecurities to express a new vision for their beloved South Sudan as the world’s newest nation navigates the difficult path from conflict to peace.

Martha Isaac, University of Juba fine arts student said, “We free our fears out, we free our shyness out, so we dance and enjoy. That day was really an amazing day, just like our first day in the University of Juba.”

The students were asked to prepare artworks for a special exhibition commemorating United Nations Day under the theme: “Building a Better Future Together”.

Despite only being a first-year student, Martha excelled and was awarded the runner-up prize for her powerful representation of the struggles the country is experiencing, including violence, flooding and ethnic divisions as well as the action needed to secure peace and prosperity for all.

Isaac said, “building a better future is when we work together, we put our hands together, we support each other, forgetting the cultures, the tribe we came from, forgetting our colours, at least we can build a better future.”

Overall winner, Selim Juma described the inspiration behind his artistic endeavour.

Selim Juma, University of Juba fine arts student said, “I was inspired by peace, and I believe in peace. If you look at the painting – if you look at the colors – they are bright colors the colors – the colors of hope, the colors of peace. When you look at the flag - it is light blue - sky blue -the colors of the United Nations – which is also an organization that promotes peace and preserves peace.”

Fellow student, Arwia Ifag said her painting is a call for South Sudan to invest in local industries – while connecting both the urban and rural areas. “The thought that came to me was - why are there no local industries or solar powered systems in South Sudan? Why don’t we have local productions here. These are the basic things we as a country should have in South Sudan. We need things made in South Sudan – but there is nothing. That is why I painted this – with the hope that we can achieve this,” Ifag said.

The message from these talented and innovative young students to all South Sudanese is to understand their differences and embrace a shared identity and sense of purpose in uniting for peace and a better future, not only for this generation, but also those to come.