It has been the historical role of artists to speak the truth through both their work and their actions as members of society. Just days after a ceasefire brought Israel’s brutal war on Gaza to an end, Egypt’s vibrant community of artists and musicians has sought to do just that.
Top Egyptian artists including Mohamed Abla, Adel El Siwi and Khaled Hafez have come together with Palestinian photographer Randa Shaath, American photojournalist Tom Hartwell, and nearly 50 other Cairo-based artists in “Art Festival for Gaza, a 3-day exhibition taking place at downtown’s Cairo Atelier.
The exhibition was organized in just 10 days, as organizers rushed to respond to the horrific events that have been taking place in Gaza in recent weeks.
Salma Shukrallah, one of the organizers, emphasized the role of artists in responding to what is happening in Gaza. “The artists involved in the exhibition wanted to show solidarity with the people of Gaza by donating their art to raise money, but, really, this is also an artistic demonstration of their stand against what is happening, she said.
Contributing artists donated one or two small pieces to the exhibition and all sales will benefit the people of Gaza. In some cases, artists reduced the prices of their work to ensure sales during the short exhibit period. Artist Haytham Nawar donated three days of gallery space in Cairo Atelier, where he is currently exhibiting, to make the show possible on short notice.
Some works, notably pieces by husband and wife photographers Tom Hartwell and Randa Shaath, do depict scenes of Gaza. Shaath’s contribution is a black and white photograph of a young girl in Canada refugee camp in Rafah.
According to the artist, this camp was created in Palestinian Rafah after the 1967 war for refugees whose homes were destroyed by the Israeli army. When the Gaza-Egypt border was redrawn in 1982, 5,000 residents of this camp were left inside Egypt without access to social services and barred from reentering the Gaza Strip. They were not repatriated until 2000.
Despite the absurdity of stories like this, and the violent realities of the current situation, Shaath wanted to show something other than destruction in her contribution to the exhibit.
“We’ve seen so much destruction in the past weeks, but the photographs that my husband and I have included in the exhibition try to show a different, more human, side of life in Gaza that people often overlook, she explained.
Other donated works encompass a variety of styles and mediums, from modern to abstract to realist by means of painting, drawing and collage. Together they compose a sophisticated gathering of exciting works by some of Cairo’s most celebrated artists.
On a purely artistic level, this is an exhibition not to be missed.
Cairo’s musicians have also gotten involved in the movement to speak out about Gaza, collaborating with the artists to present a weekend of performances to be held at the Townhouse Gallery. Participating artists include Eskenderella, Ana Masry, and Wust El Balad with Laila Samy, among others. Entrance to the concerts will be free, and t-shirts will be sold to benefit Gaza.
Art Festival for Gaza Exhibition (Jan. 22-24), Cairo Atelier: 2 Karim El Dawla St., Downtown.
Concerts (Jan. 23-25), Townhouse Gallery Factory Space: 10 Nabrawy St. (off of Champollion St.), Downtown.
