Some of the top picks selected by The Daily Star Egypt
Given the staggering amount of art on display at the 10th Cairo International Biennale, navigating your way through the dozens of installations, paintings, prints and sculptures can be a daunting task.
With more than 120 artists from all over the world showing everything from traditional oil paintings to weirdo-tech installations, the annual art bash (held this year at the Cairo Opera House grounds) offers a plethora of flavors, styles and mediums.
While some of the works on display verge on the sophomoric, there are still plenty of innovative, creative and original pieces to satisfy even the most jaded art snob. Here are some of The Daily Star Egypt’s favorites. Monocle and cigarette holder not included.
? “The Fully Enlightened Earth Radiates Disaster Triumphant While American artist Daniel Joseph Martinez’s latest sci-fi installation isn’t the heartbreaking work of staggering genius some have made it out to be, his writhing robot is the standout piece at this year’s biennale (See Farah El Alfy’s piece in this edition for more on Martinez).
? “Separation Wall Created by Lebanese artist and choreographer Walid Aouni, this massive grey hunk is the most imposing work at this year’s exhibit. Considering it is erected in front of this year’s venue, it’s also among the most high profile.
Built from wood, chunks of concrete and limitless buckets of grey paint, the work is a commentary on the 350 km-long separation wall Israel is constructing to isolate the Palestinians. Perhaps symbolizing art’s ability to bust through cultural, economic and political boundaries, spectators entering the Biennale walk through a breach in the wall.
? “Dreams (Diary of a Journey) While some of the carpet baggers down at the Khan may tell you otherwise, the hottest carpets in Cairo this month are courtesy of Italian artist Emilio Leofredi, who spent six months in India working on this piece.
A collection of colorful carpets modeled after the stitch-and-kitsch aesthetic of Indian tourism posters from ages gone by, the work evokes a sense of lost innocence while maintaining a sense of humor rarely found in modern works.
? “Soul Artist Francesca Marti says her work “can share a lot of emotions with viewers in Cairo. While we’re not sure which emotions these would be, her work is a massive and ambitious example of modern mixed media that will appeal to even the most casual viewers.
Consisting of eight big paintings overlapped with video projections of the artist’s naked friends, the piece is big, bold and fun.
? “Take it or Leave it With a video screen showing images of a seductive woman’s red lips surrounded by dozens of tarabish (fez’s), Jordan’s Hilda Hiary questions gender, sexuality and tradition in this fascinating installation.
“Whether she is a beautiful woman, or creative or a prostitute, honest or a liar, in all her cases and situations, she only sees tarabish, reads a quotation appended to this work.
Check it out for yourself.
Selected worksEgyptian painter Ibrahim Al-Desouky makes cute, contemplative works that are both highly stylized and highly stylish. Check out his five-part series of grey-washed images that are lovingly rendered in deep, pastel-like tones. Desouky’s work is also a welcome respite from some of the more conceptually challenging pieces.
10th International BiennaleCairo Opera House groundsRunning until January 31
