Sharmaarke Adan
About
Sharmaarke Adan was born in 1996 in Gouda, Netherlands. He pursued formal education, first at Barking & Dagenham College, where he completed his diploma. He went on to graduate with a degree in Photography at University of East London. Sharmaarke received a scholarship via Frank Bowling Scholarship and completed his studying at Royal college of art.
Sharmaarke Adan has contributed hugely in the Somali community especially doing the exhibition for See My Dunya in Manchester. See My Dunya aims to redress this. captured guerrilla style by London photographer Sharmaarke Adan, the See My Dunya imagery juxtaposes the everyday and mundane – a man standing on his doorstep, young boys playing football after attending mosque, a shopkeeper tending to her goods – with hyper-stylised fashion-referencing portraits of the community’s young creatives. In doing so, it questions the viewer’s perception of Somalis, and invites Somalis to see how the next generation are drawing from their heritage.
Sharmaarke has his debut photobook ‘Hargeisa’. The focus was on capturing the realism and character of East Africa, in a non-contrived and natural way, and this can be seen in the cinematography, VHS filming to eternalise the images of his subjects, and subtle intervention in terms of styling and direction. The VHS stills capture the familiarities of the Somali household, and candidly express the themes and mood from behind the scenes. Sharmaarke has participated in a group exhibition called Entitled “HOY” in the Somali national museum in Mogadishu. The much-anticipated International Contemporary Art Exhibition which featured 18 talented artists from around the world, making it the first international art exhibition ever held in Somalia.
Additionally, Sharmaarke participated in the OOF Gallery’s “Tops Off: A Century of Football Shirt Art,” where he produced a Somali 1950s Commemorative Kit, exploring the intersection of Somalia’s Af Maay poetry and football.
He also presented a short film piece titled Abkudeerinke Gootung: Legacy on the Pitch at his recent graduate show at the Royal College of Art.
Content Warning
The content on this website may contain themes and materials that some users find distressing or offensive. Further, the content on this website may not be suitable for individuals under the age of 18. User discretion is advised.
Any views and opinions expressed in this student profile represent the views and opinions of the student and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the Royal College of Art or its employees or affiliates. The appearance of any views or opinions on this page do not constitute endorsement of those views by the Royal College of Art. This student profile has been made available for informational purposes only. The Royal College of Art does not make any representations or warranties with regard to the accuracy of any information provided in this student profile, nor does it warrant the performance, effectiveness or applicability of any listed or linked sites. The Royal College of Art is not responsible for the content submitted by any user, or for the defamatory, offensive or illegal conduct of any user. If you wish to report any errors or inappropriate material that may cause offence, please email feedback@rca.ac.uk