"Narrative Summit" Releases 2025 Recommendations to Cement Egypt's Position as a Global Tourism Destination    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    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.



The colorful verve of a Mediterranean town
Published in Daily News Egypt on 23 - 04 - 2007

"When an artist starts his piece of work, it's like going into labor, artist Rabab Nemr explained. "The simple act of drawing a line . and the labor begins.
Seated among the bold, graphic ink drawings of Nemr's latest collection at the Zamalek Art Gallery, one can easily appreciate the amount of effort went to each piece.
With each stroke of a fine tip Fabiana quill pen and pots of China ink, she transforms the large blank canvases into a well-crafted image.
"I felt I am not only drawing, but at the same time weaving the surface of the painting with this ink that is best described as a noble material, and the pen that is best described as an obedient tool, she recently wrote of her current exhibition.
The central theme of this collection is not new. Nemr focuses on the fishing community in Alexandria. "I really like the life of fishermen and fish. Maybe it's because I lived in Alexandria all my life? she told The Daily Star Egypt.
"Fisherman's lives are not easy. There is a lot of drama [depicted] on their faces, she adds.
Her subjects do look exhausted, whether they're pushing the boats out to sea, or even when they're playing a hand of cards. Their eyes are not static, but engaged in unheard conversation.
Her characters are emotive, and reflect a tolerance for the hardship of lives, possibly even acceptance. It is all part of the drama that Nemr feels is key to drawing in her audience.
"I empathize with the characters [in my drawings], I can sense the characters the fish, Nemr explained. "You're going to laugh, but I talk to them.
Nemr spends time observing the fisherman, her surroundings in Alexandria, and the women at the beach. The images she portrays are real, but she doesn't sketch or take any reference of what she sees. She simply stores the images and impressions in her mind. Once in her studio, she begins to recreate them on the canvas, but from her point of view.
However, for those art aficionados who are familiar with Nemr's work, the first surprise of this collection is her flagrant use of color.
Her first venture into ink drawings was exclusively black and white. Then, in 2005, she decided to experiment with colors, introducing subtle touches of color as lighting. "But it didn't satisfy me, she explains.
With this collection, she set about satiating her appetite, using bold, brash colors. Deep purple and muter turquoise hulls of fisherman's boats grab your attention as you walk through the gallery. The fishermen themselves are dressed in colorful striped vest. A bird stands perched on a wooden pole, with a pinkish rope tied around it.
One can imagine that the artist sees the world in Technicolor, with its characteristic hyper-realistic, saturated levels of color.
"I don't draw a photograph, Nemr told The Daily Star Egypt.
The colors are chosen, not as a reflection of reality, but for their role in creating depth and heightening drama.
Nemr is driven by her craft. Her artistic style is continuously evolving. She is not scared of leaving her comfort zone as an artist and experimenting with new techniques or styles. When discussing her work, Nemr is quite modest; she is not looking for praise or acceptance, rather she invites constructive criticism, sometimes even insists upon it.
"An artist is always learning while he's still living, she said.
While she's working on a collection, she doesn't concern herself with whether or not the exhibition will be successful, whether or not her pieces will sell. Actually, parting with a piece of work is not easy.
"When I sell a drawing I become very upset, she said. "If the exhibition doesn't sell I'll be happy. I do what I have faith in.
It took about two-and-a-half years to complete this collection of over 20 pieces. Her ink drawings are a composite of mostly shapes: Arches, rectangles and trapezoid meld together to create an object or the features of a character.
Nemr began each piece by outlining the image in black and white ink. She then painstakingly added layers of shade and colors using fine, precise strokes of a quill pen.
"Work starts while putting into consideration black and white as the two basic elements in the skeleton, she wrote about her current exhibition. "The painting is also included with black and white.
After the skeleton is done, the turn of color comes. The painting starts anew, based on thinking in color.
After that arduous process, it's easy to understand why she has difficulty letting go.
In person, Nemr appears patient. Dressed in an elegant black pantsuit, she is warm and friendly to the gallery's visitors who approach her to congratulate her on her new collection. She almost seems shy.
This is a surprising contrast to her work, which is bold and extroverted. Her slow, tentative approach to her craft hints that there are hidden depths to her character that she releases in her work.
"Rabab Nemr is a remarkable artist; she emanates prestige, exudes unmistakable aura and rank's high in Egypt's contemporary artistic movement, fellow artist Farghali Abdel Hafiz described her.
Rabab NemrZamalek Art Gallery11 Brazil St., Zamalek, CairoTel: (02) 735 1240www.zamalekartgallery.comDaily from 10:30 am-9 pm (except Fridays)Until May 3


Clic here to read the story from its source.