The Modernist Women of Egypt exhibition at Green Art Gallery in Dubai was opened on 22 May, and runs through 27 July. The exhibition looks at the development of women artists in early 20th century Egypt, in the context of the country's engagement with issues of nationalism, womanhood, activism, traditions and multiculturalism.
The focus of the exhibition is the period between the 1950s and 70s, showcasing the works of Inji Efflatoun, Vessela Farid, Tahia Halim, Zeinab Abdel Hamid, Effat Naghi, Marguerite Nakhla, Gazbia Sirry and Margo Veillon.
During this period marked by political nationalism, female figures became increasingly present within public discourse.
Egyptian society witnessed a significant change in its perception of women, partly due to the advance of feminism, with activists such as Huda Shaarawi, Nabawiyya Musa and Doria Shafik gaining popular support.
Artists living in that time witnessed the beginnings of female social and political activism, the changing gender roles and family structures.
Female emancipation is symbolised in many a great artwork of the time, among them Mahmoud Mukhtar's Nahdat Masr (Egyptian Awakening), the iconic statue of a woman, standing beside a monumental Sphinx -representing the future of Egypt, the liberation of women, alongside its exceptional past.
Therefore, one way to better comprehend the history of modern Egypt is to look into the artworks of female artists, and their evolution.
Inji Efflatoun, for instance, exhibited with the Art and Freedom Group, who fought back against fascism using their surrealist artwork. As for Gazbia Sirry, she played an important role in the development of the Group of Modern Art, who expressed their views on national independence and social justice through symbolism.
Thus both women, like other female artists of the time, took part in heavily politicized art movements and groups.
The works presented in Modernist Women of Egypt do not only offer a glance into an eventful era in modern Egyptian history, but allow us to relive them through the female artists' eyes, celebrating the diversity of their individual legacies.
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