The colossal statue of Ramesses II hovers over guests to this yr’s version of Artwork Cairo, which returns to the headline-grabbing Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) for the third time.
Underneath the title “Peace to All Nations,” the sixth version of the truthful (till 12 February) takes place in a bigger and extra distinguished location than in earlier years, in an area near the foyer, which is now teeming with guests to the long-awaited archaeological museum.
The GEM started welcoming a restricted variety of friends in November 2022 and opened its most important galleries to the general public in mid-October 2024. It can formally open on 3 July.
Ramesses II within the foyer of the Grand Egyptian Museum, with the doorway of Artwork Cairo within the background Picture: © Artwork Cairo
“Our objective is to determine an Arab artwork truthful that represents artists from throughout the area and past,” says the founder Mohamed Younis, who established the truthful eight years in the past. “I used to be stunned {that a} nation like Egypt, with its wealthy historical past, one of many first nations within the area to determine effective arts faculties over 100 years in the past, didn’t have an artwork truthful.”
For the primary time, the truthful options galleries from nations past Egypt, together with Iraq, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, Bahrain, the UAE and Europe, however with a deal with works by Arab artists.
“One of many greatest challenges we initially confronted was whether or not the Egyptian viewers and collectors would embrace non-Egyptian artwork,” Younis says. “Whereas Egyptian collectors have all the time valued native artists, they’re now desperate to discover new inventive expressions and uncover artists from past Egypt.”
Galleries famous swift gross sales on the opening VIP days and the presence of youthful collectors alongside established patrons, predominantly from Egypt.
As a result of difficult geopolitical state of affairs within the area, bringing works to Cairo for a number of galleries was difficult. Gallery One from Ramallah within the West Financial institution coordinated with the truthful to ship works from Dubai and Jordan.
“It’s not straightforward to convey artworks from Palestine to Egypt, however from day one the truthful has supported us,” says the gallery’s founder Samer Martha. The gallery is presenting works by rising and established Palestinian artists at Artwork Cairo. Priced between $200 and $16,000, Martha offered out a wall of smaller works throughout the VIP opening.
From The Netherlands, Galerie SANAA is displaying works by the Syrian Utrecht-based artist Raafat Ballan. Priced between $1,000 and $10,000, a number of works offered on the opening day, with one going to a collector from Abu Dhabi.
The truthful’s expanded version additionally displays Cairo’s cultural revival after years of turmoil. “As a result of revolution in 2011, the pandemic and years of terrorism, Cairo was closed off to the surface world,” says Noor Al Askar, the venture supervisor of the truthful. “[But] the artwork scene by no means stopped. There are numerous artists, collectors and galleries in Egypt however no commonplace. With an artwork truthful you’ll want to preserve high quality.”
Stefania Angarano, who based Mashrabia Gallery in Cairo 30 years in the past, says her base in downtown Cairo doesn’t entice the collectors it as soon as did. “This truthful offers us the visibility we’d like,” she says, “each with native and worldwide patrons.”
