Amir Taz Palace 27 Al-Syoufiya St, off Al-Saliba St, Al-Khalifa District, Tel 02 2514 2581 “My Heritage,” a photography exhibition, traditional handicrafts and a book fair (26-28 June).
Beit Al-Sehemi Al-Gamaliya, Al-Darb Al-Asfar Alley, Al-Muaaz St, Tel 02 2591 3391 Musical performances and dance shows, along with an exhibition of traditional handicrafts and a book fair (runs to the end of Ramadan).
Beit Al-Sinnari Mongue Ally, Behind Al-Saneya Secondary School, Al-Sayeda Zeinab Square, Cairo, Tel 02 2390 9471 “1956: Points of View,” an exhibition organized by the Centre for Economic, Judicial and Social Study and Documentation (CEDEJ), a French-sponsored research centre in Cairo, in collaboration with Bibliotheca Alexandrina and Beit Al-Sinnari. The show includes photos and documents celebrating 1956, a remarkable year in the history of modern Egypt which witnessed important political and military incidents, including the nationalization of the Suez Canal (24 June-4 July).
Cairo Opera Complex Gezira Exhibition Grounds, Zamalek Salah Taher Gallery Tel 02 2739 0132/0144 A retrospective exhibition of the work of the artist Tag (closing 25 June). Al-Hanager Arts Centre Tel 02 2735 6861 Adam Henein Hall “Art and Culture Poineers,” a group exhibition of masterpieces by veteran artists (runs to the end of Ramadan).
Ceramic and Traditional Handicrafts Centre 1 Al-Imam St, behind Amr bin Al-Aas Mosque, Al-Fustat, Old Cairo, Tel 02 2364 3103 A permanent exhibition of the centre's ceramic, brass, jewellery and khayamiya products.
Darb 1718 Kasr Al-Sham' Street, Al-Fakhareen, Old Cairo, near Mar Girgis Metro Station, Tel 02 2361 0511 “Bread II,” a collective art exhibition showcasing different art mediums, including photography, video and installations. Bread sustains daily life and fills thousands of stomachs every morning, nourishing the young and comforting the old. If food is a universal language then bread is the most easily understood word. Life without aysh is not life.
But bread is also a powerful symbol that carries deeper meanings. It conveys unity when it's shared at Ramadan around the iftar table. It conveys good wishes of prosperity when it's given to a bride and groom at a Slavic wedding. It conveys sacrifice when it's shared between two hungry men.
In 2010, the gallery held its first exhibit on the theme of bread, titled “El Kobz,” which came shortly after the grain shortages of 2008 which left millions of Egyptians relying on subsidies and lining up for hours at bakeries. In that exhibit, artists largely focussed on the economic and political themes that bread expressed.
The show raises questions such as how things have changed. What does bread mean to Egyptians today? What does it mean to the world? Does it carry warm associations of childhood and shared meals? Does it bring bad memories or hard feelings? (14 June-31 August).
Al-Ghouri Caravansary Imam Mohamed Abdou St, off Al-Moaiz St with Al-Azhar, Tel 02 2514 7475 Permanent exhibition of the handicraft centre's products, including pottery, brass artworks and jewellery. The opening of Ramadan Souq for handicrafts and arts inspired by heritage (runs to the end of Ramadan).
Mashrabia 8 Champollion St, Downtown, Tel 02 2578 4494/Mob 010 0170 4554 “My Favourite Things,” an exhibition of paintings byHend Samir,Norhan Alaa and Marwa Saad. Samir expresses the folly and madness of everyday life, while Saad portrays magical hedgehogs as a metaphor for humans, and Alaa uses tiles and concrete to represent interactions between people and space (closing 30 June).
Picasso 30 Hassan Assem, off Brazil St, Zamalek, Tel 02 2736 7544 The gallery's annual group exhibition will showcase works by 31 late and present artists, representing different generations and art schools, including, among others, Salah Taher, Ali Dessouki, Wehad Samir, Said Al-Sadr, Samir Al-Guindi and Mohamed Zeinhom (closing 30 June).
Picasso East Villa No 39, Al-Narges 3, 5th Settlement, 90 St, in front of the Lake View Compound, Tel 02 2678 1766/012 2000 0035 An exhibition of paintings by Abdel-Aal Hassan (closing 29 June).
Salama 36 Ahmed Oraby St, Mohandeseen, Tel 02 3346 3242 “Art for All,” a group exhibition of paintings and sculptures by Abdel-Nasr Sheha, Omar Al-Nagdi, Mustafa Rahma, Fathi Afifi, Esmat Dawastashy, Mervat Refaat and Neven Al-Sisi (runs to the end of September).
El Sawy Culturewheel End of 26th of July St, under the 15th of May Bridge, Zamalek, Tel 02 2736 8881/6178/2737 4448 Earth, Word Halls and the Garden “Ramadan Yagmaana” (We are Gathered in Ramadan), an exhibition featuring work by a broad spectrum of artists in celebration of the holy month of Ramadan. This group exhibition showcases accessories, khayamia works, traditional costumes, mosaic, brass and wood artworks, glassware, ceramic, sculpture, oil paintings, drawings and photography (closing 10 July).
The Shelter Art+Photography 3 Taha Hussein St, 1st floor of Al-Yamama Centre, Zamalek, Tel 02 2737 2589 Photographs from the gallery's private collection are on permanent show, as well as some images from previous exhibitions. Talaat Harb Cultural Centre 1 Al-Sayeda Nafisa St, Zeinhom, in front of the Fathi Sorour Compound, Tel 02 2362 2647/ 2362 8174 “Inspired by Ramadan,” an exhibition of a variety of works (closing 28 June).
