Farghali Abdel-Hafiz presents a piece that combines painting with sculpture and subscribes to the philosophy of emergentism. This work is part of a project he started in the late 1970s, which was displayed at the German Cultural Centre at the time. For 20 years now, the Zamalek Art Gallery has presented an annual exhibition named "Masterpieces", featuring some of the best Egyptian art. It includes a unique collection of paintings and sculptures by artists from different generations, offering viewers an enriching rich experience through exposure to artwork by both prominent and budding artists. The exhibition is a perfect example of the gallery's mission throughout its history, which is to document contemporary Egyptian art on the one hand and present diverse aspects of the art scene in Egypt on the other. This year, the exhibition focuses on intergenerational dialogue, with one hall given over to senior and another to emerging artists. The first hall includes works by Abdel-Rahman El-Nashar, Gamal El-Seguiny, Mustafa Abdel-Moati, Farghali Abdel-Hafiz, Rabab Nemr, Zeinab El-Seguiny, Khaled Sorour, Gamal Abdel-Nasser, and Mohamed El-Fayoumi. In addition to showing work by artists from different generations, "Masterpieces" sheds light on the different phases of several artists' careers. Visitors start their tour with a collection by Mustafa Abdel-Moati, who recently received the Nile Award for the Arts. In addition to paintings and sculptures, the collection includes his latest collages utilising fabric and paper. The sculptures displayed in this collection represent the culmination of an artistic career that started in the 1960s. The exhibition also includes paintings and sculptures by the late Gamal El-Seguiny, one of Egypt's most prominent artists who also excelled in relief and embossing. A dialogue takes place between the works of Abdel-Moati and those of his life companion Rabab Nemr. Her works are characterised by powerful designs, with massive pieces making powerful use of a single element. The exhibition is on until the end of August.
*A version of this article appears in print in the 29 July, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.
