In the open air, and in front of the audience, they rolled up their sleeves, and each of them used their tools to work on brilliant works of art as part of the Art by the Sea symposium, held in Almaza Bay in Northern Egypt.
Seven young sculptors participated in the event that was organized by Art d’Egypte. The symposium, which will run until mid-September, creates an alternative environment for artists, providing them with an open and inspiring space, while also adhering to preventive measures against the coronavirus.
Ali Mustafa, a plastic artist, said he was excited by the prospect of participating in this symposium because of its innovative concept, as artists work in front of an actual audience, which is radically from the traditional process of working in a studio or workshop.
He told Asharq Al-Awsat: “This is a unique experience that I haven’t had before. It is enormously challenging, and releases an unexpected burst of energy from the artists.”
He said he uses iron in his art, “which I love passionately. It totally captivates me, with its extraordinary expressive capability and its ability to spread in the void, particularly in relation to the sense of interdependence that emerges between players in certain sports, such as rugby, which I used to play.”
On the piece he is exhibiting, Mustafa said: “At first glance, the work seems simple, with a young man and a woman chatting harmoniously and calmly, but I wanted to express a deeper idea of dialogue between the sexes and their completion of one another, as well as cooperation between people to establish a common narrative and overcome points of contention in general.”
“I used an unconventional method to create the sculpture, using circular forms in order to problematize the empty space and change visitors’ perceptions according to the angle from which they view the sculpture.”
Artist Mustafa Khader emphasized the importance of team spirit the sculptors shared as an exceptional experience, explaining that he has benefited immensely from his participation
He added to Asharq Al-Awsat: “The works exhibited in this event were inspired by the sea and night atmospheres. This is evident in several pieces and was reinforced by the escape we were granted from the city’s noise.”
Hani El-Sayed, who has taken part in international sculptural workshops, exhibits and initiatives, such as the China Symposium, the China-Arab Friendship Garden and the Youth Biennial in Italy, seemed very confident and comfortable as he practiced his craft.
He chose to exhibit a Khufu boat idea out of admiration for the Pharaonic civilization that taught the world the art of sculpture and to adopt a theme that is harmonious with the idea of painting by the sea.
Nadine Abdel Ghaffar, founder of Art D’Egypte, told Asharq Al-Awsat: “The idea emerged in conjunction with the summer season, especially since Egypt is full of innovative plastic artists, and they need multiple spaces to demonstrate their capabilities, particularly among the young.”
“We are establishing a kind of partnership with the youth to promote their work domestically and internationally with the help of the experiences and expertise we have amassed in this domain.”
