Gamal Al-Sagini's latest exhibition, showing at Zamalek Art Gallery's Venue I, sees the artist move away from his usual sculptures and into painting. The exhibition is divided into groups; the group dedicated to paintings depict dolls such as the Mulid Al-Nabi doll (Prophet Mohamed's Birthday celebration doll), the group of the Egyptian houses with Nubian architecture, personal and family paintings that depict children, women, men, group of portraits as well as a collection of selected drawings. An Egyptian sculptor, painter and medalist, Al-Sagini (1917-1977) was born in Bab Al-Shaaria district, a poor suburb of Cairo, Egypt. Al-Sagini discovered his passion for art at a very early age where he grew fond of the unique architectural nature of old Cairo such as domes, mosques and Islamic architecture which led him in 1934 to join the sculpture department at the First school of Fine Arts founded by prince Youssef Kamal. Guided and mentored by great artists teaching sculpture in Cairo at the time, Al-Sagini earned his diploma in sculpture in 1938. He traveled to Paris at his own expense to pursue higher studies where he was greatly affected by English sculptor Henry Moore who was best known for his abstract technique and reclining figures. In 1947, Al Sagini followed this by traveling to Rome to resume his post graduate studies where he received a diploma in Sculpture and Medal Arts in 1950.Constantly concerned with his home country's issues, Al-Sagini featured Egypt in most of his works expressing hope, encouragement, disappointment or just pure unconditional love. Introducing symbolism in Egyptian sculpture, the esteemed artist used different symbols of Egypt during times of joy, despair, victory and defeat. The exhibition is on until2 February.
