STORY: Exhibition on Egyptian heritage, contemporary art held in Cairo
SHOOTING TIME: Aug. 14, 2024
DATELINE: Aug. 15, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:34
LOCATION: Cairo
CATEGORY: CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the Ninth International Al-Ahram Exhibition
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): AYA EHAB, Artist
3. various of the Ninth International Al-Ahram Exhibition
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): HABIBA HOSSAM EL DIN MUKHTAR, Artist
5. various of the Ninth International Al-Ahram Exhibition
6. SOUNDBITE 3 (Arabic): RANIA RIYAD, Artist

STORYLINE:

Al-Ahram Newspaper has launched an art exhibition at its gallery in downtown Cairo, showcasing a diverse collection of works by emerging young artists and established professionals from Egypt and the neighboring Arab countries.

The ninth International Al-Ahram Exhibition featured paintings rooted in Egyptian heritage, including Aya Ihab's depiction of the peacock, which symbolizes beauty and was believed by ancient Egyptians to repel evil spirits. 

SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): AYA EHAB, Artist
"My name is Aya Ehab, and I'm 19 years old. I chose to paint a peacock because it represents beauty. I used both oil and gouache paints, and I'm familiar with several types of colors. I especially liked combining gold with blue. They complement each other beautifully. The shine adds something special, making the painting more striking than just an ordinary peacock."

Young artist Habiba Hossam El Din Mukhtar, still in secondary school, painted an Egyptian pharaoh with detailed colors and ornaments, reflecting her sense of national pride and using a palette similar to ancient Egyptian art.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): HABIBA HOSSAM EL DIN MUKHTAR, Artist
"I'm Habiba Hossam El Din Mukhtar, 15 years old, and I painted the Pharaohs because I have a deep love for our country's ancient history. I feel like we don't showcase our antiquities in art as much as they are portrayed abroad."

SOUNDBITE 3 (Arabic): RANIA RIYAD, Artist
"I'm Rania Riyad, an artist from Iraq. I'm happy to be part of the exhibition today, where I'm presenting two paintings. My first piece explores the theme of waiting and the despair it can bring. It features a crow, symbolizing death, and an hourglass representing the passage of time. The thorns in the painting symbolize life's hardships and worries, reflecting a sense of waiting without hope. My second painting, however, offers a contrast. It's about the possibility of peace, depicted through peace lilies that symbolize tranquility."

The exhibition opened on August 11 and will continue throughout the month.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Cairo.
(XHTV)