Egypt's stocks retreat on Wednesday; July 30 amid local sell-off    Egypt's Cabinet approves E-Tax platform contract    EU economic sentiment improves in July '25    PM: Sisi's Gaza speech reaffirms Cairo's steadfast stance on Palestinian cause    Egypt, France airdrop aid to Gaza amid growing humanitarian crisis, global criticism of Israel    Egypt launches initiative with traders, manufacturers to reduce prices of essential goods    SCZONE chief discusses strengthening maritime, logistics cooperation with Panama    Supply minister discusses strengthening cooperation with ITFC    Egypt strengthens healthcare partnerships to enhance maternity, multiple sclerosis, and stroke care    Egypt keeps Gaza aid flowing, total tops 533,000 tons: minister    Egypt reviews health insurance funding mechanism to ensure long-term sustainability    Gaza on verge of famine as war escalates, ceasefire talks stall    Gaza crisis, trade on agenda as Trump hosts Starmer in Scotland    Egyptian president follows up on initiatives to counter extremist thought    Indian Embassy to launch cultural festival in Assiut, film fest in Cairo    Egyptian aid convoy heads toward Gaza as humanitarian crisis deepens    Culture minister launches national plan to revive film industry, modernise cinematic assets    Egypt will keep pushing for Gaza peace, aid: PM    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Sisi sends letter to Nigerian president affirming strategic ties    Egypt, Senegal sign pharma MoU to unify regulatory standards    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt, Somalia discuss closer environmental cooperation    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    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    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    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.



An inspiring year bereft of ‘Flowers'
Published in The Egyptian Gazette on 29 - 12 - 2010

CAIRO - Although there were few but major tragic events this year in the fine arts, theatre and literature, a strong beam of light can be seen. We could name this year "The Year of Youth", as it witnessed a youthful invasion in all cultural fields.
In the fine arts, new young artists immerged, while in the theatre young directors as well as new talents brought the audiences back. In literature, young writers voiced their protests in satirical ways in a number of political bestseller books.

Van Gogh clouds 2010

The theft from a Giza museum of a painting by Vincent van Gogh valued at $55 million was one of the tragedies of 2010. The picture was stolen when only seven out of 43 security cameras in the museum were functioning, the Public Prosecutor said.
The thieves cut the painting out of its frame, the State-run Middle East News Agency reported.
The 1-foot-square oil painting, entitled ‘Poppy Flowers' or ‘Vase of Flowers', is one of 304 oil paintings and 50 sculptures in the three-storey museum, built in 1920 as the residence of Egyptian art collector Mohamed Mahmoud Khalil.
The most conservative estimate of the value of the collection is LE7 billion ($1.2 billion), according to a governmental website.
A number of Egyptian officials have been given three-year suspended sentences over the theft in August of the painting.
The head of the Culture Ministry's Fine Arts Sector, Mohssen Shaalan, and Reem Bahir, the museum's director, were among 11 people convicted of negligence.
However, the thief remains at large. The search for the painting continues in Egypt and elsewhere, with the assistance of Interpol.
On a happier note, Egyptian artist Mahmoud Saeed's ‘Les Chadoufs' (1934) fetched a record $2.43 million at Christie's Dubai Sale.
The painting was sold in an auction of modern and contemporary Middle Eastern and Iranian art, including 25 masterpieces from the collection of the Saudi Arabian collector, Mohamed Saeed Farsi.
The oil painting, which had a pre-sale estimate of $150,000 - $200,000, depicts a desert landscape with male workers dressed in turbans and statuesque veiled women carrying jars upon their heads, recalling Egypt's Pharaonic and Islamic history.
It was reportedly the most expensive work of art by an Arab artist ever to be auctioned by Christie's Dubai.
This month, Cairo is hosting more than 15 art exhibitions alongside the 12th International Cairo Biennale.
In addition to established independent art spaces, such as the Townhouse Gallery, the Contemporary Image Collective, Espace Karim Francis and Mashrabeya, that have turned Cairo's downtown area into an arts hub, a number of newcomers have popped up, including Artellewa, Darb 1718 and Medrar for Contemporary Art.
"The 12th International Cairo Biennale, which is being held in Arts Palace and the Modern Art Museum in the Cairo Opera House, in addition to some other places including the Mahmoud Mokhtar Museum, is a very important event, gathering Egyptian and foreign artists from round the world," Sobhi el-Sharoni, an Egyptian art critic and journalist, told the Egyptian Mail.
El-Sharoni sees that, as time passes, everything changes. "Fine art is changing. Digital art has invaded all fields. This is happening worldwide, not just in Egypt," says el-Sharoni, who has accepted this new kind of art. "I can't stand against it. We can't stand against universal change.”
Many galleries have started turning the spotlight on fine arts this year, while many talented youngsters have appeared.
"What is notable this year is that young artists have begun to emerge very fast, while most of the veteran artists have disappeared," says Hani Rashed, a young artist, who is currently holding an exhibition in Mashrabia Art Gallery.
"Many art galleries have also opened this year; you can't miss the great artistic movement and the many exhibitions," he adds.
El-Sharoni says that a lot of young artists are emerging because of the emergence of a lot of young managers and directors of art galleries.
"The Art Palace, el-Gezira Art Gallery, Mahmoud Mokhtar Art Gallery and other galleries are all headed by young artists. They're all doing very well," he stresses.


Clic here to read the story from its source.