Promoting contemporary Egyptian art through nationality and history CAIRO: "Their technique is different. Their materials are different, says Noha Khouri, manager of the Zamalek Art Gallery. "But you can always feel an Egyptian, Pharaonic identity. It's very harmonious. Harmonious is indeed the word to describe the latest show at the Zamalek Art Gallery. Materials range from basalt to chrome to polyester; inspirations from sources as diverse as the Pharaohs, the human form, birds and buildings. Despite these differences, all of the earthy browns and blacks, and graceful forms fit together. The show includes five sculptors, Armen Agop, Nagui Farid Tadros, Omar Toussoun, Shams El Kronfoly and Tarek El Komi. The Zamalek Art Gallery promotes contemporary Egyptian work. Khouri believes that nationality and history unite the work of these artists. "Each has a link with Egypt, she says. "Techniques and themes are not the same, but wherever they go with it, it comes from a common base. While most of the artists in this show use only one material for each sculpture, Nagui Farid Tadros' abstract columns and busts stand out with their mix of stone and metal. "I paint on the sculptures with metal, he says. His layering of nickel, chrome and granite highlights the contrast between the textures and colors of the stone and metal. Patches of nickel on chrome imitate brush strokes in many of his pieces. Tadros often works near Luxor, and he cites Pharaonic art and architecture as his chief influences. The contrasts in Farid's work stands out next to the sweeping grace and smoothness of Tarek El Komi and Armen Agop's geometric work. Agop works mainly in bronze. His seamless, black ovals curve up into off-center points, the sleekest of the pieces in this show. Working in stone-like polyester, Tarek El Komi draws inspiration from the human form. He makes square cut outs in his rounded busts and bodies, while still keeping the basic human shape of his pieces intact. "I like to put the energy inside the figure, he explains. "I go from form to form through smooth shadow. Nothing is sharp. He finds his sloping oval works to be "relaxing. El Komi also cites Pharaonic influences, describing how ancient Egyptian artists painted and carved complex and detailed designs inside simple mummy forms. Like El Komi, Shams El Kronfoly focuses his work on one form. Instead of humans, he has chosen birds. In a new series of pieces, he has constructed granite, marble and bronze birds. He likes these materials because they are "organic and natural. To El Kronfoly, the bird is a "symbol of freedom, observing the whole world as it flies above. Though Omar Toussoun's carved granite and basalt pieces also depict birds flying, his technique is nothing like El Komi's. Rather than deciding what to carve before choosing his stone, Toussoun lets the stone decide its own shape. He places pieces of different stones on top of each other to reflect both human and bird forms. While the other, more polished would look appropriate inside a house or museum, Toussoun's rougher aesthetic a place in a garden or fountain. Only one of his pieces mixes different types of stone in one form. When asked why he had used many different textures and stones in this piece, he responded, smiling, "Because this is a woman. Those interested in sleek and streamlined contemporary sculpture should take a look at this work. The show will be at the Zamalek Art Gallery at 11 Brazil Street, Zamalek, (202) 735 1240, until October 21.
