Large-size paintings
Veteran artist Omar al-Nagdi is holding a solo exhibition at al-Masar Gallery in Cairo, in which he is displaying large-size works which he has produced since as far back as the 1970s. The masterpieces, which measure 1x1m to 5x2m, are being shown for the first time. The exhibition began on 12 April and runs till 7 May.
Line of artists
The Ghouri Artists Society is currently holding its 28th annual exhibition at the new building of al-Ahram paper in Cairo. The exhibition shows some 300 artworks by more than 125 artists of different generations, starting with the pioneers of the mid-20th century and extending to the young artists of today. Works on display include paintings, sculptures, ceramics, and graphics. Many belong to the expressionist and surrealist schools, and a large segment represents modern Egyptian landscape painting.
People and Umm Kulthoum
George Bahgouri’s most recent exhibition focuses on “The people and Umm Kulthoum” and was held this month at Picasso art gallery in Cairo. Bahgouri uses his distinctive style, which draws heavily on caricature, to create paintings with strong well-defined lines and shapes, to delineate a plethora of spectacles of the everyday life of the people. A special collection captures scenes of the legendary diva Umm Kulthoum (1906 – 1974) as she sang to enraptured audiences.
Nefertari and her sisters
This was the title of an exhibition by the artist Helmy al-Touny at Extra art gallery in Cairo this month. Through this collection on “Nefertari”, Touny attempted to reveal the beauty of ancient Egyptian art. Adding the typical Egyptian symbols in the background of his paintings, he, skillfully used vivid colours outlined with black.
Indexing the Aswan works
With the aim of protecting the artists’ sculptures, Culture Minister Farouk Hosni has approved implementing a comprehensive project to electronically register and document the sculptures of the International Aswan Symposium since it was launched some 14 years ago. Some 150 works created by 164 Egyptian and international sculptors will be indexed. The indexing includes a description of each work; the name of its creator and the date on which it was completed.
Istanbul the fascinating
Unearthing its spiritual dimensions even after the visit was over, the artist Farghaly Abdel-Hafeez presented a collection of paintings on Istanbul, a distinctive topographical point which links Asia to Europe, in an exhibition held earlier this month at Zamalek art gallery in Cairo.
Abdel-Hafeez’s Egyptian roots fuelled this encounter like a burning flame. Istanbul comes to life in an aesthetic reality that is vibrant and compelling—a 21st century perception of the city as seen through the eyes, heart and mind of an Egyptian. “Istanbul has long been a source of fascination to me,” Abdel-Hafeez said.
Pioneer of crayons
The veteran artist Mohamed Sabry, known as the pioneer of crayon painting, is holding his recent exhibition at Doroub art gallery in Cairo, from 12 April until 10 May.
Under the title “Paintings have a history”, a collection of his latest creations is displayed side by side with other older paintings.
I am the World
Egypt is the 2009 sponsor of the International Children’s Book Day (ICBD) which is celebrated every year around 2 April. The date marks the birth of Hans Christian Andersen. ICBD is sponsored by the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) and is celebrated to inspire a love of reading and to call attention to children’s books.
Each year, one of the 70 National Sections of the IBBY around the world serves as the international sponsor of ICBD. It selects the theme and oversees the development of promotional materials for ICBD. The materials are then used to promote reading and children##s books. Often, schools and libraries hold events in conjunction with International Children’s Book Day. The 2009 international sponsor is EBBY, the Egyptian Section of IBBY, and the 2009 theme is “I am the World”.
The Hans Christian Andersen Award is the highest international recognition given to an author and an illustrator of children##s books. Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark is the Patron of the Andersen Awards.
The nominations are made by the National Sections of IBBY and the recipients are selected by a distinguished international jury of children’s literature specialists.
This year’s poster was designed by Hani al-Masri who, after obtaining a degree in fine arts in Cairo, joined Walt Disney Imagineering where he worked as a concept and show designer. Back in Egypt he was awarded Best Egyptian Illustrator of 2004 by the National Council for Children Books, then IBBY Honor Award, 2006 for illustration of ‘Behind the Secret Door’.
In addition to the 2009 ICBD poster, there is a companion poem which begins,
“I am the world, and the world is me
For through my book
I can be whatever I want to be.
Words and pictures, verse and prose
Take me to places both far and close.”