"Occidentalism: Contemporary Artists From Egypt"
2007-05-13 until 2007-05-23
Hotel Suisse
Cairo, , EG Egypt

Twenty artists from Egypt representing its contemporary art scene have been commissioned by curator Karim Francis to create works of art surrounding the theme of the Occident as Seen by Artists From Egypt. The event, an independent project, will be inaugurated on May 13, 2007 at the Hotel Suisse showcasing until May 23, 2007. This shall be the first time that a collective initiative is commissioned of this scale for that purpose in Egypt. Since April 2006, weekly meetings have been held in which participating artists (representing various backgrounds and inter-cultural experiences) converge among themselves and with the curator in order to ensure the coherence, totality and harmony of the event. The result of activities will be a body of contemporary Egyptian art pertaining to the Occident, available for touring museums of international cities, as of 2008.  

The event will feature open forums with the artists and guest speakers that will be held at the Greek Club, Downtown. The open forums with the artists will allow deeper exploration and investigation of issues and discussions that shall arise during the event. Several themes emerging from the works include the meaning and formation of Egyptian identity in relationship to modern history, the West as mirror of the self, the politics of cartography, gender, clichés and stereotypes. 

Dates: Exhibition opens on Sunday May 13th at 8 pm until May 23 rd 2007
Venue: Hotel Suisse, 26 Mohamed Bassiouni St. (Antikhana), 6th Floor, off Talaat Harb Square, Downtown Cairo
Opening Hours: Daily 10 am - 10 pm
Media: Video art, installation, painting and photography.
Featured Artists: Adel El Siwi, Ahmed Nosseir, Amal Kenawy, Hani Rashed, Hazem El Mestikawy, Hazem Taha Hussein, Heba Farid, Hisham El Zeiny, Huda Lutfi, Islam Zahr, Khaled Hafez, Lara Baladi, Mohamed Abla, Mohamed Taman, Nader Sadek, Nermine El Ansary, Sabah Naim, Shady El Noshokaty, Sherif El Azama

Related Links:

Indepth Arts Resources for Egypt

Other Important Exhibitions in Egypt

Call for Artists : 13th Annual Subtle Technologies Festival Explores Sustainability - Subtle Technologies, University of Toronto Art in Mind : Work by Natalia O'Neill - Brick Lane Gallery The Ione Citrin Collection - Poway Center for the Performing Arts Gallery Parallel Realities : Aishan Yu's First Solo Show in the UK - Peifen Fine Art Secrets and Confessions : Peter Sudar, John Stark, Leonard Vartic, Ioan Cristea - Ana Cristea Gallery Call for Artists : The Beast In Me, Johnny Cash - Art Influenced by the Struggle of a Man' - Nave Gallery Notations - Bruce Nauman: Days and Giorni - Philadelphia Museum of Art Beauitful Elsewhere : Fusion and Con-fusion - Migrating Cultures and the Dynamic of Exchange - Universita di Napoli - Partenope Animal Nature : Powerful Paintings, Drawings and Digital Prints by Hyacinthe Kuller-Baron - Computer Arts Gallery