A solo exhibition by Omar Al-Nagdi, one of the most important contemporary Egyptian artists is currently on display at AL MASAR gallery in Zamalek. Entitled, “Impulsive Expressionism II”, the exhibition showcases the artist's most recent works as well as a number of his older works. Most of the paintings express the artist's impulsive reaction to themes he says he has stored in his subconscious, themes that excited him and stirred his emotions enough to metamorphose into striking masterpieces. Al-Nagdi's pictorial vocabulary is rooted in his home country's politics and in the lives led by Cairo citizens. He obtains such profuse imagery by combining poetry with elements inherited from 20th century artistic trends namely Expressionism, Cubism and Fauvism. The creations on show in this exhibition fuse different sources of inspiration. Al-Nagdi depicts the jovial and opulent festivities of Egyptian traditions in many of his paintings. Bright colours highlighted by gold leaf in some areas burst out from some of his paintings. The dynamism rendered through the complex composition of figures and decorative patterns echo the lavish festivities and social traditions of rural people. Al-Nagdi through his paintings grasps the liveliness of Egyptian social traditional scenes. In 1953, he obtained his BA in arts at the Faculty of Fine arts, Cairo and studied the art of ceramic in Russia in 1958 and 1959. He studied at Venice Academy of Fine Arts, Italy from 1960-1964. The painting above is titled "Doll Show II", a mixed media on canvas (60x90cm). The exhibition will continue through 11 April.
