“Cairo International Art District” Highlights the Connection Between Contemporary Art and Historical Narratives of Downtown
Nadine Abdel Ghaffar: Art is a mirror of society. The exhibition presents works that express the heart of the city.
Karim Al-Shafei: Contemporary art in historic Downtown sheds light on the Egyptian identity in all its details
Akatsuki Takahashi: “Art D’Égypte” has a positive impact on the cultural scene
The streets of Downtown are hosting the fourth “Cairo International Art District” (CIAD) exhibition, in celebration of contemporary art and its connection with the spirit of historic Cairo, organized by “Culturvator/Art D’Égypte” between (10-30) October in three vibrant locations: the Factory, Access Art Space, and Cinema Radio. The attendees include: Cultural Attaché at the US Embassy in Cairo, Emma Marwood, Culture Programme Specialist at the UNESCO Regional Office for Egypt and Sudan, Akatsuki Takahashi, Cultural and Artistic Communications Officer at the Embassy of Spain, Magdalena Cruz, Cultural and Artistic Communications Officer at the British Council, Cathy costain, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ismailia Real Estate Investment Company, Karim Al-Shafei, Egyptian artist Hassan Ragab, Mohamed banawy, the Spanish Nicolas De La Roche, producer Shahinaz Al-Akkad, artist Tamer Nabil, director Nabil Ezzat, and a number of Egyptian and foreign artists.
“Culturvator/Art D’Égypte” founder, Nadine Abdel Ghaffar, stated, “Art is a mirror of society, and Downtown Cairo, with its storied past and vibrant present, provides the perfect canvas for this collective narrative”. She noted that “Cairo International Art District” which is a parallel exhibition to the fourth “Forever Is Now”, scheduled to be held in the Pyramids area from October 24th to November 16th, allows local and international contemporary artists to visualize the legacy of such historic area through their works; expressing the spirit of the city.
Abdel Ghaffar also mentioned that the “Designers Circle” initiative is to be launched for the first time as part of the “Cairo International Art District”. This initiative aims at fostering collaboration between artists, designers and architects, and encouraging exchange between different specializations, allowing creative people to unleash their creativity and establish coordinated and visually appealing spaces.
Through the “Designers Circle”, participants will go beyond the standard design limits, inspire each other with creative ideas, and get to know different artistic experiences. Additionally, the initiative highlights the sponsoring of “Culturvator/Art D’Égypte” with regards to creative talents and broadening the horizons of contemporary design.
Karim Al-Shafei, who is a constant supporter of Cairo International Art District, noted, “Indeed, Downtown is different from any other place in the world. It brings together all social groups. It is regarded as a mirror that reflects all the spectrums of the people living inside or outside the city or even outside the country”. Al-Shafei mentioned that the presence of contemporary art in Downtown has a lot of meanings.
It is a historical area and its visitors wish to see its history; they find themselves in a place that reflects the contemporary Egyptian identity in all its details. Indeed, this represents the identity and art of Downtown and highlights its beauty in its diversified forms. “Al-Shafei” confirmed that the Downtown area contains fabulous places. This does not only mean buildings, but also urban planning, unique squares, and buildings’ pathways.
Culture Programme Specialist at the UNESCO Regional Office for Egypt and Sudan, Akatsuki Takahashi, mentioned that UNESCO has been sponsoring Art D’Égypte for several years. Furthemore, they are pleased to witness the development of this significant event, as well as its positive impact on the cultural and artistic scene.
Takahashi also noted that the 2005 convention was one of the most prominent conventions that focus on promoting cultural diversity and highlights the power of culture, especially in times of crises and conflicts.
She also said that it is so important to protect the voices of artists, regardless of their nationalities. Additionally, she emphasized that Art D’Égypte plays a vital role in promoting art and culture.
Mohamed Kahal, one of the exhibitors, stated that Art D’Égypte is a significant partner for them; they both have the same thoughts. Kahal noted that they have been making carpets for over 150 years. They wish to share their ideas with the whole world. Companies abroad manufacture carpets in other countries. For instance, Italy manufactures carpets in India. Some companies manufacture carpets in Egypt; however, they do not give Egypt enough publicity. This is totally unfair, for we have been working in this industry for years and using the same global materials. Thus, the most important thing for Kahal 1871 was to work with an entity that thinks the same way and has the same vision.
“Kahal” noted that what makes this year’s exhibition different is supporting unknown artists. He stressed the importance of encouraging talents.
Artist Sylva Nagada, one of the exhibitors, stated that they are exhibiting for the first time in the Designers Circle, which made her so glad. As a fashion design company, it is the first time to exhibit outside their villa. Nagada mentioned that the displayed collection is hand-woven. They aim at preserving this heritage craft from extinction. She noted that the activities of Art D’Égypte are so crucial. They are organizing a parallel exhibition to “Forever Is Now” at the Pyramids. Supporting and bringing together all artists, whether they are famous or not, are brilliant ideas that promote art.
Artist Mohamed Benawy said that the Cairo International Art District is developing each year. It is a significant initiative that sheds light on the works, ideas and visions of contemporary artists. Besides, displaying works in the historic Downtown adds an artistic value to them, as well as a new and different dimension.
“Cairo International Art District” is hosting more than 100 local & int artists from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, America, Belgium, Italy, France and Switzerland. Each artist offers a unique perspective to this global art gathering through videos, scultputures, paintings, and live shows, highlighting the interaction of contemporary art with the historical and cultural narratives of Downtown. At the opening ceremony, American-Egyptian artist Hassan Ragab presented an AI-generated video and Saudi artist Khaled Zahedpresented a short video.
Choosing Downtown to host the Cairo International Art District exhibition is due to its unique 19th-century architecture, highlighting the creativity of international architects who left their mark on the area, when Khedive Ismail decided to develop the Egyptian capital. The “Cairo Chronicles” exhibition offers a marvelous exploration of the city’s diverse spaces; old cafes filled with memories, abandoned houses, and iconic buildings that witnessed the rich history of the city.
Moreover, “Cairo Chronicles” highlights the vital role of artists in documenting the evolving art scene of Cairo and celebrates the dynamic relation between artists and their environments, for each artist tells a story through his artwork which is related to the place in which it is displayed.
