At Karmat Ibn Hanaa Cultural Centre in Ahmed Shawqi Museum, Giza, a retrospective exhibition of sculptures by the Alexandrian and exceptionally gifted sculptor Sarkis Tossoonian was inaugurated. It showcases a collection of sculptures that represent his entire oeuvre. He managed to distinguish himself among his peers carving his very own collection of modern-style sculptures that are nevertheless inspired by the ancient Greco-Roman architecture and statues spread across Alexandria, the "Bride of the Mediterranean", such as his statues a lesson in geometry and a youth with one wing. The exhibition displays 28 pieces of sculpture sized 70x25 cm including statues depict people we encounter in our everyday life such as the young peddler, a teenager and a bride. Born in Alexandria in 1953 with Armenian origins, Tossoonian graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts, Sculpture Department, class 1979. He started exhibiting in individual and group exhibitions in Alexandria since 1980 and up until now. He won the second prize in sculpture in the Fifth Biennale of Port Said in 2001. The sculptor excels in blending two different mediums in his works like non shiny bronze with shiny golden brass. His figures stand for both male and female figures dressed elegantly and representing mostly noble graceful poses. Although metals are his favourite art media, Tossoonian has participated at the Aswan International Sculpture Symposium and carved a statue of granite, a very stubborn piece of stone. He emphasizes on small details in attempt to embody the movement through the woman's hair, garb and scarf which fly over her body. Polishing the different parts of the sculpture's external façade enabled the artist to play with light and shadow. After one year of taming granite, he realized that carving granite totally contradict what he used to in wood and bronze. The latter are soft and leave the artist free handed to highlight details but in granite it is better to carve simple forms without too much details. The exhibition ends on 15 July.
