A thrilling exhibition features extraordinary artist Gamal El-Sagini's wide range of expertise, from painting and sculpture to hammered copper and ceramics was inaugurated at the Zamalek Art gallery and Mahmoud Mokhtar Culture Centre's premises. Celebrating his 100th birth anniversary, the retrospective exhibition shows that like his work, El-Sagini was one of those rare men of solid principles. He was quoted as saying by his son, Magd El-Sagini, that "he would rather throw his work into the Nile than compromise on what he believes was supreme quality". His son once assisted his father to hurl sculptures and busts into the Nile for just that reason. At the time of El-Sagini's passing in 1977, his works were not given the credit they so certainly deserved. His son Magd, 23 at the time, held unto his works for 30 years without ever exhibiting them. His love for Egypt drove him to shun those who could have helped him reach fame and glory. El-Sagini opted for integrity. He believed that he and Egypt deserved better. He only exhibited once every 8 to 10 years during his lifetime. According to Magd, “Each exhibition was a search and a message and not one of his pieces was done haphazardly.” El-Sagini lived his life and made his art the only way he knew how: with deep love, exceptional loyalty and a passionate drive towards beauty at all costs. All of El-Sagini's exhibitions, of which this retrospective is the fifth, were organised by the Zamalek Art gallery. The exhibition is on until 16 May.
