“Art for All” is a group exhibition by such contemporary Egyptian painters as Georges Bahgory, Gihan Raaouf, Essmat Dawestashi, Effat Hosny, Abdel-Aal Hassan, Ayman Salah Taher, Mohamed Tarawi, Nagwa Al-Ashri and Fatemah Refaat. It is currently on display at the Salama Gallery. Abdel Aal Hassan is one of the press's leading artists. His subjects vary from the human face or the art of the portraiture to sailboats and landscape. Portraiture had already been developed by its early pioneers, starting with Ahmed Sabry and his students Hussein Bikar, Sabry Ragheb, Ezzeddin Hammouda and Hassan Suleiman. However, Hassan has brought to this art his own magical and glittering contribution which, even as it resumes the tradition, presents its own exceptional case. The poetry of his stroke, its elegance nearly overshadows the art of painting itself. Uniquely enough, the artist was attracted to Banat Al-Ballad (country girls), and not just grassroots Alexandrian girls like Mahmoud Said's. He was most infatuated by girls in the urban working class, in the countryside and the oases; he gave them remarkable features with a touch of magic and beauty. Hassan offers such hints and intrigues in Banat Al-Ballad using a combination of whispering, shouts and quiet meditation. His paintings echo his boldness of touch, presenting no end of diversity. The exhibition will remain on view until the end of the Summer season.
