WATANI International
24 October 2010
Distinguished sculptor
This October an exhibition of works by the artist Gamal al-Sagini (1917 –1977) opened at the Zamalek Art Gallery. Sagini introduced symbolism and expressionism to Egyptian sculpture. This, coupled with his great talent, paved the way for him to earn several prestigious awards.
Born in Cairo, Sagini studied sculpting at the Higher School of Fine Arts in his home city and later went to Paris at his own expense to pursue his higher studies. As a member of the so-called third generation, which rebelled against the conventional art styles of their predecessors, Sagini earned in 1947 a scholarship to Rome where he received a diploma for sculpture and metalwork. Sagini formed the group known as Sawt al-Fanan (The Artist’s Voice), which drew many of the young artists who followed new artistic styles. In 1977 Sagini travelled to Spain for a comprehensive exhibition of his works but, sadly, died in Barcelona the following month.
The exhibition continues until the end of November
Gardens of Egypt
The Safar Khan Art Gallery in Zamalek, Cairo, is holding an exhibition by Anna Boghiguian. The theme is a first-time topic for Boghiguian: the gardens of Egypt. Whether these gardens are in Alexandria or Cairo, Boghiguian focuses on capturing the spirit and history of each. The interpretation we see through Boghiguian’s brush is a brilliant one that shows her mastery of the subject matter and the emotions she adds to these heavenly gardens. By way of a quick brush, light penetrates through the sumptuous vegetation of the gardens. It is a pleasure and joy to see the peaceful surrounding of these gardens frequented by those people sitting there so serenely. Boghiguian’s usual almost monochromatic painting is dotted with elements in vivid colours. She uses both acrylics and oils.
The exhibition closes at the end of October.
Indian art
Harmony and Rhythm was the theme title of an exhibition held to represent contemporary Indian art as part of Indian Cultural Week in Egypt. The show was held at the Abaad (Dimensions) Gallery in the Museum of Egyptian Modern Art in the Cairo Opera House grounds. The exhibition, which closed on 14 October, displayed 29 paintings depicting the tone and rhythm of daily life in India by four female artists: Sandhya Singh, Deepa Seth Bhando, Sonika Agarwal and Ruchi Goyal Kaura.
Singh captured the rhythms and melody of the classical Hindustani raga (a musical scale in Indian classical music) in a unique style of her own. Bhando, a muralist, used landscapes in remarkable colours to depict different emotions. In Kaura’s bright threadwork, every piece was a part of herself, woven with the threads of the relationhips and seasons that have been part of her journey through life. Agarwal used strong brush strokes and bold colours to depict the resilience and strength of Indian women.
Glimpses of Oman
On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Omani National Day earlier this month, an exhibition entitled Glimpses of Oman was inaugurated at the Cairo Opera House Gallery by the speaker of the People’s Assembly, Fathi Sorour, and Culture Minister Farouk Hosni and was attended by the Omani ambassador to Egypt Sheikh Ali bin Khalifa al-Harythi. The show was of some 240 photographs depicting the social life and the monuments of the ancient civilisation of Oman by 10 artists, among them Mohamed bin Ali, Nesreen bint Hilal, Seif bin Nasser al-Hanaai and Khaled al-Qasemi.
Tannoura
The Doroub Gallery in Cairo is currently holding an exhibition under the title Motion and Colours by the Egyptian artist Taher Abdel-Azim, which runs till the end of this month. Abdel-Azim offers a refreshing insight into Sufi traditions, especially whirling dervishes performing the tannoura, their much-loved dance. The painter, who is proud of his rural roots, sees Sufism as an integral part of Egypt’s national psyche. In his interpretation of the scene, the dervishes can be seen turning their faces to heaven as they dance, as if aspiring towards higher realms.
Dolls
Danish artist Lise Allam’s latest exhibition Dolls was held earlier this month at al-Gezira Art Centre in Zamalek, Cairo. Through 66 oil paintings of various sizes, including drawings and additional pieces in different media, Allam perfectly illustrates the unique relationship between a girl-woman and her dolls, and explores the theme of shared human experience by focusing on modern society’s relationship with what she calls the “human doll”.
Allam made the transition into painting more than a decade ago after a successful 30-year career in textile designing in Egypt, where she has lived since the 1980s.
The exhibition also featured sketches of earlier works. “The exhibition is a product of several years’ work, and I was keen on recording the process of thought in each stage. I was sleeping, eating, dreaming dolls,” she expressed.