22 - 28 February 2001
Issue No.522
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Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 22 - 28 February 2001 Issue No.522 |
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 | Current issue | Previous issue | Site map | ||
Pack of CardsThe Modern Education School (MES) in New Cairo held a poetry festival last week in which they were joined by students of the Manor House School, Nefertari Language School and Ramsis College for Girls in writing and reciting poetry. Magda Abdel-Moneim, the school principal hosted a panel of judges which included Professor Abdelwahab Elmessiri, Professor Fadila Fattouh and many other distinguished academics. Well darlings I'm pleased to inform you that a new crop of poets is on the march. |
* The world is a series of arches, according to Gamil Shafiq. Within and among them: curves that extend and expand, billowing into figures of arch-like grandeur -- man, woman, an embrace. More often there are symbols: sleeping in the memory of an ancient tradition, they are aroused suddenly from their sleep, and reduced to mere logarithms, as incomprehensible as they are enticing. A horse, bearing the weight of distortion, takes up the depth of a lit-up arch. Fish float up above, dissolving in a radiant disk that may or may not be the sun. Absolved of earthly obligation, they are little more than self-enfolding curves.
Shafiq's is a shrouded world, a realm of grainy surfaces and far-fetched connections. 2001, accompanying the artist's signature, adds an ironic sense of urgency, a subtle understanding of the times. For without resorting overtly to the talismans of electronica, the drawing captures the awe of interminable millennia. Art as virtual reality that does not exclude individual and collective identity: the fish has survived through the Middle Ages and the modern era; the fish, once old and forgotten, reappears on the computer screen as a remarkably vital ancient-world connection. And the figures that embrace -- tall, timeless, tree-like -- blend humanity with the passing of years. Perhaps nothing else matters: all the gadgets of reality disappear, and the fish remains. |
* Few people can forget the image of a little boy shot in cold blood by Israeli soldiers while his father attempted to shield him unsuccessfully with his body. Mohamed Dorra was remembered recently at the Gardenia Hall of the International Garden in Alexandria, during a ceremony organised by the Salah Taher Art Lovers Association and attended by his father Gamal Dorra as well as one thousand guests, including ministers, dignitaries and journalists.The keynote speech was delivered by Eng. Yasser Youssef, chairman of the board of the association. Noticed among the guests was Ali Ghoneim, deputy chairman and general director of Al-Ahram Organisation.
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* "A Green wind comes from the East", dears, displays the work of my newly acquired friend, the delectable Japanese photographer Satoshi Hasegawa, who won himself a grand prix in the third International Print Triennale, no less. That was in 1999, my poppets and since then we've been deprived of Hasegawa's innovative endeavours. Gezira Arts Centre events came as a life raft. From 17 to 24 February, I gorged my eyes on traditional Japanese art films, following a stunning performance by the Taiwanese choreographer Jessie Fan Ko. The good news is: the exhibition is on till 28 February, so get down there on the double and feel the eastern winds.
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* Our good friend and distinguished contributor, renowned thinker Mohamed Sid-Ahmed has eclectic interests which transcend politics. This is why he welcomed the chance to discuss global warming with the students of the Model United Nations (MUN) last week at the American University in Cairo. Sid-Ahmed cited figures and examples with which I would not dream of burdening your pretty little heads. The problem, from his perspective, is that "we have enough information to recognise that this is a problem, but we do not have enough information to solve it." So be warned. If nothing is done soon we will begin to melt like any old ice-cream cone in the sun.
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* Al-Ahram Regional Press Institute and US-Mid-East Music and Fine Arts Council are introducing the first "Youths' and Children's Cultural Festival," with world-famous ballet performances, on Sunday and Monday 1-2 April 2001, at the Cheops Hall of the Cairo International Conference Centre. The programme is tailored to suit school students of all ages. The highlight of the programme is Camille Saint Saens' masterpiece "Carnival of the Animal," with a narrated text by Nazih Girgis, founder and chairman of US-Mid-East Music and Fine Arts Council, and includes Sergei Prokofiev's children's classic masterpiece "Peter and the Wolf." Choreography is by ballet teacher Fatma Marzouq.
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* I was extremely pleased to hear that one of our former colleagues Farida Mansour was appointed as public relation manager of the Nile Hilton hotel, a position that she will assume as well as that of executive business centre manager. When I heard of the appointment from Hassan Hamza, general manager of the hotel, I told myself that it is always a good thing I had friends in high places. Well done Farida.
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* The AUC department of Performing and Visual Arts is promising us a performance, the description of which is shrouded in mystery. As if its name was not enough to whet one's curiosity -- Doña Musica Butterflies -- it claims to employ narrative, theories of modern physics and poetry in the exploration of issues of identity, fiction and origins. I am afraid I can't help you there dears, and at this point your guess is as good as mine (at least).
The same department will present on 28 February a recital featuring Soprano Valerie de Casas in works from Schubert, Debussy, von Weber, Gounod and Verdi with Greig Martin at the piano. |
* The Bureau of Intelligence and Research of the US State Department has invited our dear former MP Mona Makram-Ebeid, to take part in a conference titled "Egypt Today and Tomorrow". Mona's intervention will deal with "Domestic Politics and Foreign Policies in Egypt".
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