WATANI International
22 February 2009
Wagdy Habashy
Abstract emotions
To celebrate his 80th birthday, a solo exhibition was held by the veteran artist Mohamed Taha Hussein at al-Masar Gallery in Mohandiseen, Cairo. The exhibition, which began on 7 February and runs till 7 March 2009, shows a collection of Hussein’s work from 1955 to 1999, as well as his latest paintings in 2008. Most of his paintings are depicted by his known style of abstract, but with emotional touches.
Born in Gamaliya on 14 February 1929, and raised in the old districts of Fatimid Cairo with their rich Islamic architecture and cultural heritage, Hussein imbibed the unique climate to later produce works which displayed depth and religious reference.
Inner world
Since the beginning of this month and until next Saturday the Safar Khan Gallery in Cairo is hosting an exhibition of the paintings of the artist Nazli Madkour. Madkour’s new collection, which merges between abstraction and figuration, focuses on exploring the inner world of women. Her works lean more towards abstraction when it relates to innerscapes.
Born in Cairo in 1949 where she lives and works, Madkour earned a Masters Degree in Political Economy from the American University in Cairo. In 1981 she resigned her post of Economic Expert at the Industrial Development Centre for Arab States (Arab League, Cairo) to concentrate on art. She has since held countless exhibitions in Cairo and abroad. Madkour is married to the writer and novelist Mohamed Salamawy President of the Writers’ Union of Egypt and Secretary General of the General Union of Arab Writers.
Clowns
“Clowns” is the title of an exhibition of the works of Amany Zahran held earlier this month at the Grant art gallery in Zamalek, Cairo. Zahran’s 22 paintings reveal her obsession with the faces of clowns and their reflection of emotions—happiness, anger, sadness, or passion. She masterfully manages to add a touch of sadness to the features, albeit using bright and vivid colours. “It took me six months to finish this collection; six months of complete enjoyment,” she said.
Bahari
Bahari—the name of the fishing disctrict in Alexandria—is the theme of the latest exhibition by the artist Farid Fadel at Picasso art gallery in Zamalek, Cairo. This is the third exhibition of a series entitled “Genuis of Egypt”; the first—“Describing Egypt”—was held last April in Alexandria while the second was later held in Cairo under the title “Upper Egypt again”. The 40 paintings currently on display are in oil and water colours and reflect the influence of the Delta, the northern lakes, Rosetta, Damietta, and Alexandria, on the painter. Fadel says he was also inspired by fishing boats which look like the old Phoenician boats. The exhibition runs till 3 March.
Mothers of our alley
In appreciation of the unconditional love and dedication of mothers to their children, an exhibition entitled “Mothers of our alley” is currently being held at Cordoba art gallery in Mohandiseen, Cairo, and runs till 5 March. The painter Farouk Wagdy depicts Egyptian mothers in different positions; one while nursing a baby, and another while combing her little daughter’s hair. Folkloric motifs and Egyptian face features, as well as typical scenes of motherhood usually seen on the alleys and in the villages dominate the paintings on display. The date 21 March is celebrated by Egyptians as Mothers Day.