“Colourful Memoirs”, is the newest exhibition of oil paintings by artist Assem Abdel-Fattah currently on display at Al-Kahila gallery in Mohandeseen. It showcases 20 paintings varying between oil as well as mixed media peppered with gold and silver papers. He re-shapes the ordinary figures in his very own unique style as he believes that the dilemma of the modern artist to set himself free from the academic restrictions without missing the significance of the visual image. His paintings are not a depiction of reality but it represent a different world with its very own privacy of formation concerning people, movement, customs and traditions in the folk districts; all these elements are the artist's first source of inspiration and the medium in this process of creativity. Some of the works are produced on fabrics in different colours and materials. Born in Abdu Al-Hanbouli Street in Al-Abbasiya district, he then moved with his family to Al-Muizz Street Cairo where the historically fascinating old districts of Egypt's capital such as Al-Azhar, Khan Al-Khalili, Al-Gamaliya and Bab Al-Fotouh stand resplendent. This is brilliantly reflected on canvas and the audience can feel the smell of history while watching Abdel-Fattah's paintings. From 1997 to 2000, he occupied the position of professor at the Fine Arts Faculty in Al-Zaytouna University in Jordan. He has been selected as one of the Arab artists to participate in the UNESCO Digital Arts Portal project. The exhibition is running through 28 February.
