"Behind the diwan (plaid window) of each building hide the bright eyes of women calmly peeping at passers-by and streets without being noticed themselves. The diwan is like an exquisite veil draped over a building, covering everything." This is a quotation from "The Eyes of Sudanese Women," an article by Su Ning, a young Chinese man with a decade-long connection to this African country.

Bonded by art

In 2002, Su was sent to work in the Sudan office of China National Petroleum Corp. (CNPC). Since then, Su's ties to the African country have shifted the track of his life.

"Before I went to Sudan, I had no idea of what Sudan was really like. What I imagined was scary, all about sandstorms and insects everywhere. So when I first set foot on the African continent, I was completely unprepared," Su told ChinAfrica. 

But after three busy months of work, when Su began to examine the country and people's life there, he soon became attached. Having previously worked in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in China, Su found that Xinjiang and Sudan had a lot in common in terms of climate and religion. His experience living in Xinjiang helped him quickly adapt to life in Sudan. Working in environments ranging from the desert to jungles and beaches was not as difficult for him as many Chinese would imagine.

Su also found a good way to relieve stress caused by his work - art. Already a skilled painter and interested in Sudanese culture, Su liked to make quick sketches of common people he met in the marketplace, ranging from an old man selling candy on the street to a travel-stained postman from afar. "I like to use my pen as a camera," said Su. "With a piece of paper in your hand, you can record a lot moments in life."

By chance, Dr. Rashid Diab, a Sudanese master of art, saw one of Su's pieces. He suggested Su assemble all of his works into an art collection.

"When it comes to art, I'm actually an amateur, but Dr. Rashid Diab gave me a lot of useful advice," Su said with gratitude. "He not only helped me get my works published, but also taught me how to hold an exhibition so that my works can become widely known. It's his guidance that made me embark on the road to exploring and creating more art." In 2007, his art collection Sudan in My Eyes was chosen by the Sudanese president as a gift to Chinese President Hu Jintao during his visit to Sudan. 

Art changed Su's life, making him a known figure in Sudan. Su recalled that when he tried to rent a new office for CNPC, the landlord recognized him instantly, calling him Sami, Su's Arabian name. What impressed Su most was that when he went to a small village in south Sudan, an old man invited him into his home. As his son interpreted, Su came to know that the old man had seen him on television. The old man told Su that he had become a celebrity in Sudan.

"In a small village of a remote country, people feel close to each other despite differences in race or language," Su said, expressing his appreciation of Sudanese society and customs.

Record experience

In 2008, Su finished his work in Sudan and returned to China, but he has maintained his close ties to the African country. In China, he again set pen to paper, this time to record his experiences in Sudan in writing. His books - Nile, Nile, The Starry Skies of Africa, and On the Nile - were published one after another. The exotic experiences described in the books found favor with many Chinese readers.

The Starry Skies of Africa was published this year. Without any publicity or promotion, the book sold well online, winning praise from both critics and readers. Its high sales numbers also reflect the growing interest of many Chinese in China-Africa cultural exchanges. Su believes that both his paintings and books are records of his life experiences, and have been a personal tool for introspection. More importantly, they have allowed him to commemorate his friendship with his Sudanese friends. 

Su was admired by many of his locally-hired coworkers in Sudan, who were motivated by his infectious enthusiasm for his work. Many of them later left Sudan to work for embassies or companies in other countries. After returning to China, Su was frequently in contact with his Sudanese friends. When a friend was going to get married, Su had a tailor in Shanghai custom-make an Arab-style wedding dress as a gift. "They called me all choked up and told me that the whole village was waiting for Sami to attend the wedding," Su said. "I felt very sorry, but I'm too busy here. So the only thing I could do was sending the gift to express my good wishes and congratulations."

So far, Sun has published three art collections in Arabic and an additional three books in Chinese. He told ChinAfrica that he plans to continue his creative and artistic efforts, because in his eyes, Sudan is an amazing country, always waiting for him to return and explore its beauty.