Artellewa hopes to bring art to the slums of Giza The whitewashed walls of the small gallery stood in contrast with the dusty street alley. What ordinarily would have been used as a crowded koshk or a workshop, stood empty save the few photographs that were taped to its walls. Hamdy Reda, roll of tape in hand, stood back to survey the gallery. His laid-back attitude, disheveled clothing, couldn't mask his excitement at unveiling his vision, Artellewa. The "cultural space in the slum area of Ard El Lewa was finally inaugurated Wednesday evening. "Art is far-removed from the people, Reda explains. "I wanted to bring it close to the people who are close to me. Reda was raised in Ard El Lewa, a residential squatter in the north-west of Giza, situated west between the two great informal areas Boulak El-Dakrour and Imbaba. Originally Reda's brainchild, Artellewa only began to take shape when he met German Verena Liebel, who recently completed her studies in sociology, politics and the science of art. Swiss photographer's David Aebi's encouragement - along with the support of curator Mahmoud Hamdy and workshop coordinator Shaimaa Kamel - were all that was needed to pull it off. They shared Reda's vision, to contribute to the cultural development of the locals by giving them access to art and cultural activities. Through a combination of exhibitions and art workshops, they hope to encourage their neighbors to take an interest in art and to participate. There is only one other cultural center in the area, and it can't cope with demand, noted Liebel. "There is a big need for a cultural space here. To kick off their project, they chose to exhibit a selection of Aebi's photographs taken during a recent five-month stint in Cairo. Aebi snapped shots of the dove cots on Cairo's cluttered rooftops, a couple sneaking a romantic moment in a newly planted garden under a concrete bridge, and close ups of the Nile. "I am preoccupied with arts, culture, architecture, landscape and surroundings in general, writes Aebi of his work. "Here in Cairo, I try to understand and get into Egyptian culture, which is, for the most part, completely unknown and strange for me. But what might be new to this artist is all-too familiar to the inhabitants of Ard El Lewa, so why choose to launch with Aebi's work? First and foremost, they wanted art that was accessible, as well as approachable, explained Hamdy. They also wanted to get the message across that art is everywhere, that it is a part of daily life. A mural of 25 photographs of window-shoppers downtown during Eid El-Fitr dominates the 2.5 by 2.5 meter showcase. At first glance, there's nothing spectacular about the images, it's only Liebel's interpretation that lends it vision: The shoppers are crowded outside the store windows, eyeing the merchandise like artifacts in a museum - look but don't touch. Instead, they buy the clothing from street vendors camped on the pavements, selling the more affordable knock-offs made in the Far East. Art is the key to education, a way to reflect on daily life, said Liebel. It's quite a tall order for the gallery to fulfill in an area that has been experiencing cultural drought. A driver took a quick glance around the gallery as Reda and his friends were setting up. He seemed unsure what to do, and slightly uncomfortable. Visiting art galleries wasn't a common pastime. When asked his opinion, however, he seemed intrigued, but only responded with a noncommittal, "It's nice. For the team at Artellewa it's only the beginning. Along with the exhibitions, they're planning to host a variety of cultural and artistic workshops for the locals - especially the youngsters who don't get much exposure to cultural activities at school. Reda has had experience holding alternative photography workshops at the Women and Society organization in Imbaba. As a young boy interested in art, a simple gift of a camera from an uncle sparked his creativity. "My uncle told me, 'You'll be the artist in the family,' recalled Reda. He hopes to do the same for the children in his neighborhood, give them the opportunity to discover their creative talents too. "With the level of chaos in education in Egypt, there's no interest in art and music, Reda said. Artellewa will provide a much-needed outlet for those interested. To keep the cultural space going, Liebel is applying for funding from non-governmental organizations and cultural centers working in Egypt. "My big hope is to continue, and if we reach a year, then that will be good, said Reda. "I want to do something for the community, help them understand something about art. Simply put, that sums up Artellewa's mission and ambition. Photographs by David AebiArtellewa19 Mohamed Ali Al-Eseary, Ard El Lewa, Giza, CairoTel: (012) 5963611www.artellew.blogspot.comOpen daily (excepts Saturday) from 4-10pmExhibition runs until January 30
