On Sunday, November 10, at Afak Hall, artist Mohamed Abou El Naga will be presenting his artistic show “Narratives,” through which he seeks to showcase the most important stations and shifts in his artistic career, so that the recipient can, through this direct juxtaposition between the works, observe the fluctuations or transformations that his experience has witnessed. The exhibition is held under the patronage of Professor Dr. Ahmed Fouad Hanou, Minister of Culture, and is organized by the Fine Arts Sector headed by Dr. Walid Qanoush, who will open the exhibition in the company of a group of art professors and senior artists at exactly six o’clock in the evening. In anticipation of this exhibition, we review paragraphs from the introduction of the artist Sahar Bahri (the artistic curator) to this exhibition, which included parts of what she discussed in her artistic reading of Dr. Mohamed Abu El Naga’s experience. “In the “Narratives” exhibition, the artist Mohamed Abu El Naga invites us to a journey through time and identity, presenting an integrated artistic experience that expresses human diversity. Through an artistic practice that challenges traditional classifications, Abu El Naga combines craftsmanship and contemporary experimentation in his works, to present an innovative, multi-faceted vision based on the intersection between personal history and collective culture. Through the use of photography, sculpture and installation, Abu El Naga reflects universal human issues such as identity, memory and change, as his works become a living testimony to social and individual transformations. The artist translates his personal experience into embodied images in which cultural legacies intertwine with contemporary issues, producing works that express the dialectic of stability and transformation, and address the human spirit in every time and place.” In another paragraph, Bahri says, “His works are a multidimensional artistic journey, through which he re-explores collective and individual memory. By manipulating light and shadow, Abu Al-Naja weaves intertwined worlds that reflect the challenges facing our contemporary societies. Using unconventional materials, he prompts us to critically reflect on the concepts of identity, culture, and history, so that his works become a living testimony to the power of art in the face of social and political changes, and a key to re-reading our history from a new and innovative perspective.” Sahar Bahri also mentioned, “Abu Al-Naja’s technique combines photography and artistic intervention, capturing the dynamic and ephemeral nature of street art. By documenting the walls and the continuity of their changing symbols, he reflects the turmoil erupting in the city’s streets, where layers of drawings and slogans accumulate to express the collective aspirations of the Egyptian people. His style highlights the dialogue between documentation and artistic expression, and reshapes the raw materials of the revolution into a new narrative that honors the ongoing struggle for freedom and justice.” The exhibition continues until December 5, 2024 at Afak Hall (Mohamed Mahmoud Khalil and his wife Museum - 1 Kafour Street, Dokki)
