Egypt, S.Arabia step up trade ties through coordination council talks    Egypt reviews progress on $200m World Bank-funded waste management hub    Egypt urges Israel to accept Gaza deal amid intensifying fighting    SCZONE showcases investment opportunities to eight Japanese companies    Egypt, ADIB explore strategic partnership in digital healthcare, investment    SCZONE, Tokyo Metropolitan Government sign MoU on green hydrogen cooperation    Egypt welcomes international efforts for peace in Ukraine    Al-Sisi, Macron reaffirm strategic partnership, coordinate on Gaza crisis    Contact Reports Strong 1H-2025 on Financing, Insurance Gains    Egypt, India's BDR Group in talks to establish biologics, cancer drug facility    AUC graduates first cohort of film industry business certificate    Egyptian pound down vs. US dollar at Monday's close – CBE    Egypt's FM, Palestinian PM visit Rafah crossing to review Gaza aid    Egypt prepares unified stance ahead of COP30 in Brazil    Egypt recovers collection of ancient artefacts from Netherlands    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    Egypt, Namibia explore closer pharmaceutical cooperation    Fitch Ratings: ASEAN Islamic finance set to surpass $1t by 2026-end    Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Egypt's Sisi, Sudan's Idris discuss strategic ties, stability    Egypt to inaugurate Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



True authenticity in Aswan
Published in Daily News Egypt on 29 - 03 - 2006

CAIRO: "The city of radiance and luminosity, history, nature, purity and beauty, says Farghali Abdel Hafiz, his eyes lighting up as he describes the ancient city of Aswan, in the south of Egypt.
The acclaimed artist chose Aswan as the theme of his latest exhibition for numerous reasons, which extend beyond the aesthetic.
Aswan was the southern frontier of Pharonic Egypt, and today attracts millions of visitors with the vast amount of history it displays, such as temples, tombs and ancient artifacts.
Along with its history, Aswan offers an abundance of nature; the Nile, the greenery, the desert and pink and black granite are all factors that lead to this fusion of raw materials that end up looking dramatic, explains Abdel Hafiz.
The people of Aswan are themselves intriguing. The tranquility apparent in their faces distinguishes them from other citizens of Egypt; they are calm, content and, like Aswan itself, genuine.
"When those three things come together it is very strong, says Abdel Hafiz. "In my art I express the love and beauty of Aswan with a message that we must preserve it.
Every one of Abdel Hafiz's paintings has its own concept. One, for example, shows the tourists in Aswan sitting on the terrace of an old cataract overlooking Elephantine Island (Jazirat Aswan), on which stand the ruins of the ancient city of Yeb.
Abdel Hafiz uses sand to create the island in his painting, and draws a temple which is a symbol of ancient Egypt. These symbols are apparent in all of the paintings, maintaining the historic theme regardless of the concept of each individual painting. Another painting featured is of a local boatman and his content features. The dominant color is yellow, representing serenity and the brightness of the Aswan sun. In the corner of the painting it shows night, with locals gathered together, singing and reading poetry; another way of life in Aswan.
Many of the paintings have a similar style, lines, which are created in one shot. This is a form of art that Abdel Hafiz himself chose; to echo the purity of Aswan.
The materials used in this project are mostly acrylic, as well as oil sticks, sand (colored or bona fide) and tamr (mud from the Nile).
Among the paintings that stand out is "Fatat El Sad El Aly (Girl of the High Dam) and what Abdel Hafiz refers to as the Mona Lisa of Aswan. It depicts a beautiful Nubian girl made out of authentic mud from the Nile, as well as paint. Parts of the woman are three dimensional as she protrudes from the canvas.
Another painting on display is one made out of sand, mud and corn-stalk. "It is not about the composition, he explains, "It's about the message.
Abdel Hafiz was one of the first Egyptian artists to put together an exhibition based only on instillations in 1983. He feels that they are true Egyptian art; as Europeans created paintings, ancient Egyptians created instillations.
Born in Dairout, Middle Egypt, in 1941, Abdel Hafiz is a graduate of the Institute of Art Education and the Academy of Fine Art in Florence. He was elected in 1989 to be Dean of Faculty of Art Education until 1994, and ever since has been a Faculty Professor of design for graduate studies.
Although Abdel Hafiz is a supporter of all forms of art, and is worried that modern art is too concentrated on technology and weak on the spirit.
"This exhibition is all about pushing art in the direction of authenticity and advocating emotions, he says. "Art is not simply about aesthetics; on the contrary, aesthetics is the technique used to reach a certain sensation.
Aswan is the newest addition to a series of work Abdel Hafiz has done around Egypt, following his work on Cairo and Alexandria. He has also previously done life on the Dead Sea and Petra in Jordan, and Florence and Venice in Italy.
Visit the exhibition at the Zamalek Art Gallery 11 Brazil St., Zamalek. Open until April 20.


Clic here to read the story from its source.