Lovers of Coptic art were devastated last month at the loss of contemporary iconographer: Samira Lamei (1960 – 2024).
Dr Lamei passed away in February 2024 following years of battling cancer. She leaves behind no family; she never married. The eldest of three sisters and a brother, her life was devoted to her artistic career.
Tuesday 19 March coincided with Dr Lamei’s Arbaeen, literally Forty, denoting the passage of 40 days on her passing. Marking Arbaeen is an Egyptian tradition that goes back to ancient Egypt where it was related to the process of mummification; today Copts mark it by celebrating Mass to honour the deceased.
In their footsteps
Dr Lamei was Assistant Professor at the Coptic Art Department in the Institute of Coptic Studies (ICS) in Cairo.
Her description of Coptic art was apt: “Coptic art is a simple, realistic art in its themes, but it has created its own uniqueness with its symbols and colours, closely resembling ancient Egyptian art with Coptic additions. As in the art of the ancients, it is drawn in two dimensions, not three, given that the bi-dimensional is seen as constant whereas the third dimension is a changing feature. Faces look forward, and eyes are large, symbolising straightforwardness and wisdom.
“The art is entirely symbolic in its meaning, and it does not lean towards details.”
Dr Lamei was a student of renowned iconographers Youssef Nassif (1920 – 2013) and his wife Bodour Latif (1921 – 2012) who worked together on writing icons, and signed them jointly. Their icons are unique in that they relay the spirituality of Coptic art, yet include an unmistakable touch of Egyptian folk character. The Holy Virgin and female characters in the icons wear their hair in braids just like typical Egyptian peasant women; the eyes and features are those one encounters in everyday Egyptian faces. These traits gave the Nassif/Latif icons a lastingly endearing sentiment.
Dr Lamei’s art followed in the footsteps of the Latif/Nassif icons, featuring the same character, lines and touches.
Supporting the young
Dr Lamei was famous for her keenness to encourage young iconographers. She often arranged workshops for them where she taught the art principles she had learnt at the hands of Youssef Nassif and Bodour Latif.
It came as no surprise that her Masters degree thesis was titled “A Rich Journey of Coptic Art in the lifetime of Pioneers Dr Youssef Nassif and Dr Bodour Latif”.
In January 2023, Dr Lamei earned a PhD degree from ICS on “The artistic and cultural significance of the events of the Holy Family’s Flight into Egypt”.
Her icons adorn many of Egypt’s Coptic churches, also churches in Canada, Oman, and Romania.
For story on Youssef Nassif and Bodour Latif:
Watani International
20 March 2024
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