CAIRO - To enhance tourism and entertain people as well, the Second International Biennale for Culture and Arts, with the theme ‘Revolution and Cohesion', started here Friday night at Cairo Opera House and runs until June 30. The Biennale has been organised by the French Autumn Salon and Paris-based Association for Culture and Arts, headed by Egyptian artist Abdel-Razeq Okasha also the Chairman of the Biennale. "Al Tahrir Square inspired us to come up with this theme," said Heba Hozayen, the General Manager for the Biennale. "The protesters demonstrated with paintings, caricatures, jokes and poetry. The revolution was all about creativity," she told The Egyptian Gazette. The aim of this Biennale, according to Hozayen, is to let all the participating artists know that Egypt is safe. “When they return home to their countries, they will tell everyone about this, enhancing tourism and investments.” The individual guest of honour this year is well-known French artist Monique Baroni, a member of Salons Parisiens. "The Egyptian revolution was wonderful. I'm happy to be here and breathe the freedom," Monique said. "I believe that the world was born in Egypt.” Monique, 81, who has won many awards and prizes, has held many exhibitions worldwide throughout a long career. She has entered two of her painting for the Biennale, in both of which she uses light colours to express her love of life. "I use my paintings to fight for love and peace," she said. The Biennale includes four plastic arts exhibitions, in which 120 artists from 31 Arab, Asian and Western countries are participating. These countries are Brazil, Canada, China, England, Hungary, Peru, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Mexico, Slovakia, Ukraine, the US, South Korea, Japan, Senegal and Sweden. In addition to Egyptian artists, there are artists from Arab and African countries like Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Iraq, Kuwait, Morocco, Tunisia, Syria, Palestine and Libya. The guest of honour is Ethiopia. In addition to the art exhibitions, there will be art and poetry seminars and workshops, in order to create murals about the recent revolution. Don't miss: Sunday: 11am – the hall in the Centre for the Documentation of Heritage in Smart Village opens. 1pm – The President of the French Autumn Salon, Noel Coret, gives a seminar about ‘Photography and Creativity' at the Centre for the Documentation of Heritage. 7pm - Well-known Egyptian poet Zein el-Abdeen Fouad will give a seminar on the revolution in the Open Theatre. Meanwhile, ‘The Train', an exhibition of the works of Abdel-Razeq Okasha, is being held at the Picasso Art Gallery, 30 Hassan Assem st., off Brazil St., Zamalek. Open daily from 10:30am to 9pm, it runs until July 9. Monique Baroni, Baro Renwar and Iraqi artist Ayad Shalaby have also contributed works to this exhibition.
