Latest news with #ArtD'Égypte
Al-Ahram Weekly
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Second edition of Tale of Two Cities links Milan and Alexandria - Visual Art - Arts & Culture
CulturVator's Art D'Égypte has launched the second edition of Tale of Two Cities, a cross-continental exhibition taking place in Milan, Italy, and Alexandria, Egypt. Tale of Two Cities functions not only as an exhibition but also as an initiative aimed at reconnecting various Mediterranean cities with Alexandria through art, history, and human dialogue. The initiative's first edition, held in 2024, was hosted by Greece's Acropolis Museum and Egypt's Bibliotheca Alexandrina. It reaffirmed Alexandria's historic role as a cultural bridge and celebrated the exchange between the two nations. This 'curatorial pairing' featured Greek artists such as sculptor Costas Varotsos (born 1955) and visual artist Danae Stratou (born 1964), alongside their Egyptian counterparts, including the late painter Mahmoud Said (1897–1964), Alexandrian sculptors Omar Touson (born 1972) and Said Badr (born 1965), and Cairo-born interior architect and photographer Karim El-Hayawan. The second edition of Tale of Two Cities runs from 30 June to 31 July 2025 at Galleria Fumagalli in Milan, where it is co-curated by Art D'Égypte and Maria Vittoria Baravelli. Inspired by the ancient Milan Papyrus—one of the oldest known documents of poetry, discovered in 2001—and structured around three poetic fragments from the text, the Milan segment of the exhibition offers a lens through which artists contemplate the transience of cities and the enduring power of art. Contemporary Egyptian and Italian artists and designers engage with the papyrus's poetic themes in innovative and multidimensional ways. Participants include Jamal Bassiouni, Hassan Ragab, Ahmed Farid, Luca Boffi, Giacomo Cossio, Clarulecis, and Luigi Pensa. The exhibition also features designers from the Designer Circle by Art D'Égypte, including Kahhal 1871, Ahmad Elsherif, and Shewekar, whose projects reinterpret heritage and materiality within the context of contemporary design. In addition, a segment of this year's Tale of Two Cities will be presented at the MA*GA Art Museum in Gallarate—a city in the Milan metropolitan area—on 1 and 2 July. Titled Geography and Mystery, the MA*GA showcase presents Italian photography that explores identity and the spirit of place. These works go beyond documentation, offering meditations on the unknown and the hidden within nature and human history. Following its time in Italy, the exhibition will travel to Egypt, where works by artists from both countries will be displayed at several venues in Alexandria in October and November 2025. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
CairoScene
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Egyptian & Italian Artists Bridge Cultures in 'Tale of Two Cities'
Held between Italy and Egypt, 'Tale of Two Cities' unites 13 artists across disciplines to explore geography, poetry, and memory through contemporary art, design, and visual storytelling. Jun 29, 2025 From Milan to Alexandria, 'Tale of Two Cities' returns for a second edition with a lineup of 13 Egyptian and Italian artists and designers. Organised by Art D'Égypte by CulturVator, the exhibition spans two major venues—MA*GA Museum and Fumagalli Gallery in Italy—before heading to Alexandria later this year. With a focus on memory, geography, and artistic legacy, the exhibit weaves together the poetic and the contemporary through painting, photography, sculpture, and design, building on last year's 'Tale of Two Cities' exhibit between Alexandria and Athens, Greece. Here's a look at the artists shaping this East-West dialogue... Ahmed Farid (Egypt) A self-taught abstract painter whose work explores the chaos and vibrancy of urban life. Drawing on a background in marketing and social science, Farid's canvases are layered meditations on identity, conflict, and city life, positioning him as one of Egypt's most acclaimed contemporary abstractionists. Jamal Bassiouni (Egypt) Known for his multimedia works exploring Egyptian beliefs and colour theory, Bassiouni moves seamlessly between painting, sculpture, and installation. His practice often engages ancient symbolism through modern materials. Hassan Ragab (Egypt) An architect and generative artist whose studio practice fuses computational design, furniture, and visual art. Ragab's work engages technology, identity, and form, challenging visual expectations. Luca Boffi / Alberonero (Italy) An artist and farmer, Boffi creates large-scale public works rooted in visual perception, landscape, and ecology. His interdisciplinary practice blends art with community and environmental activism. Giacomo Cossio (Italy) A painter whose bold works reflect on the apocalyptic conditions of the present. Cossio's visual universe is built on symbolic gestures and charged landscapes, often invoking the human impulse to control nature. Clarulecis (Italy) A collective founded by Chiara Lecca, working between Romagna and Sardinia. Their creations combine natural elements with performance, sculpture, and design to revive a primal human-nature relationship. Luigi Pensa (Italy) Trained at Central Saint Martins, Pensa's design work spans furniture, ceramics, and fashion. His pieces reflect a fusion of digital and handmade processes, often layering cultural and religious iconography. Kahhal 1871 (Egypt) Kahhal 1871 is one of Egypt's oldest rug ateliers, now helmed by Mohamed El Kahhal, whose contemporary vision preserves traditional craft while reimagining handmade carpets for luxury interiors. Ahmad El Sherif / Cotta Design (Egypt) Founder of Cotta Design, El Sherif creates interiors that balance heritage and modernity. His projects, spanning Egypt and Saudi Arabia, fuse functionality with aesthetic storytelling. Gamal Meleka (Egypt) A Cairo-born artist whose early success in Italy helped shape a career grounded in scenography, painting, and cultural symbolism. His work bridges academic technique with emotive expression. Karim El Hayawan (Egypt) An interior architect and street photographer whose visual language captures Cairo's layered architecture and human character. His lens frames the city as a living organism. Marina Ballo Charmet (Italy) A major figure in Italian photography, Charmet's perceptual style explores the 'always seen'—the overlooked rhythms of daily life—often shot from a childlike or peripheral point of view. Stefano Cagol (Italy) Working across land art, video, and conceptual practice, Cagol investigates environmental and geopolitical themes. His work often explores borders, energy, and the tension between nature and culture.
Egypt Today
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Egypt Today
Tale of Two Cities: Italy & Alexandria: Reviving Cultural Dialogue Across the Mediterranean
Following the great success of the first edition of the "Tale of Two Cities" exhibition, which brought together Athens and Alexandria, Art D'Égypte by CulturVator returns this year with a new edition of this pioneering cultural initiative, linking Italy and Alexandria. This marks a continuation of the mission to revive the cultural and historical ties between Egypt and the Mediterranean countries and to foster cross-border artistic dialogue. The previous edition of the exhibition, held at the Acropolis Museum in Athens and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in 2024, served as a visual and human bridge between the civilizations of Greece and Egypt. It featured works by artists from both countries and hosted a wide range of cultural and intellectual activities in collaboration with the Cavafy Archives, the Benaki Museum, and the Onassis foundation. This year, the exhibition will be held in Milan, Italy, taking place at Galleria Fumagalli from June 30 to July 31, 2025, and on July 1 and 2 at MA*GA Museum, one of the leading institutions for contemporary art in northern Italy. A curated selection of Egyptian and Italian artists will participate within a creative framework that reflects the richness and intersection of cultural narratives across the Mediterranean. The exhibition will also travel to Alexandria in October and November 2025, where it will be hosted across several prominent cultural venues, further deepening the artistic exchange and fostering creative dialogue between the two nations. Nadine Abdel Ghaffar, founder of Art D'Égypte by Culturvator, said: "I'm proud to be launching the second edition of 'Tale of Two Cities' in Milan, a city that has long been a hub of art and civilizational dialogue. This project is an extension of our vision to reconnect Mediterranean cities through art and culture, offering platforms that reflect the diversity and shared creativity of the region's people. We believe that art can transcend borders, and that Alexandria will always remain a symbol of this cultural convergence. Our ambition is to transform this project into an annual initiative, partnering with a new Mediterranean coastal country every year." "Tale of Two Cities" is more than just an art exhibition; it is a sustainable cultural initiative that seeks to reconnect Mediterranean cities through art, history, and human dialogue reaffirming Alexandria's role as a historic bridge and a city that celebrates openness and cultural exchange.
CairoScene
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Art D'Égypte's ‘Tale of Two Cities' Prepares to Land in Italy
'Forever Is Now' 2025 will feature renowned Italian artist Michelangelo Pistoletto. May 07, 2025 Now in its fifth edition, 'Forever Is Now', Art D'Égypte's site-specific exhibition series, launches its latest chapter with a gathering at Cairo's Italian Embassy. This year's iteration brings with it the participation of renowned Italian artist Michelangelo Pistoletto, realizing a long-held ambition to exhibit at the Pyramids of Giza. 'One of Michelangelo Pistoletto's biggest dreams was to exhibit his most important work in front of the Pyramids of Giza, and this year, it's coming true at Art D'Égypte,' said Italian Ambassador Michele Quaroni. 'We are extremely proud to work with Maestro Michelangelo, who has been nominated for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize,' said Nadine Abdel Ghaffar, founder of Art D'Égypte by Culturvator. 'Part of his work is the belief that art is essential for peace, and we believe in that too.' The evening also marked the announcement of a new cross-cultural initiative: a residency programme that will support a young Egyptian artist's study at the UNIDEE Academy in Italy. Over the years, Art D'Égypte has steadily carved a space where contemporary art can engage with heritage. Its exhibitions invite artists to reflect on history without being bound by it, turning archaeological landmarks into open-air sites of encounter and exchange. This June, Tale of Two Cities also returns. Following last year's debut in Greece and Alexandria, the project will now take shape between Milan and Alexandria, continuing its quiet meditation on shared histories and evolving dialogues. The next edition of 'Forever Is Now' is scheduled to take place at the Great Pyramids of Giza from October 30th to November 22nd, 2025.
CairoScene
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Italian Artist Michelangelo Pistoletto Joins Forever Is Now 5
The legendary artist brings new work to Cairo and offers Egyptian artists a chance to study in Italy with first-year funding. May 06, 2025 Michelangelo Pistoletto is heading to the pyramids—and he's bringing a call to action. As Art D'Egypte's internationally renowned exhibition Forever Is Now returns for its fifth edition, the Italian icon of Arte Povera arrives not just with an artwork, but an invitation. His towering new installation will be featured at the Great Pyramids from October 30th to November 22nd. But that's only half the story. In collaboration with Art D'Égypte and the Italian Institute of Culture in Cairo, Pistoletto's foundation is offering one Egyptian artist the chance to study in Italy's Accademia Unidee for free. The renowned artist's career spans over six decades with exhibitions at the world's most prestigious institutions, including the MoMA, Tate Modern and Venice Biennale, among others.
