São Paulo – The first Egyptian Cultural Festival is running from Tuesday (23) to August 4, featuring original work by four artists from Egypt. Admission is free, and the event is hosted by Egypt’s Economic and Commercial Office in São Paulo. “This is actually our first showing of work by Egyptian artists in São Paulo, where most of the Egyptians in Brazil are, and our first cultural festiva. We have two art exhibits with work by four Egyptian artists who live in four different countries,” consul Mohamed ElKhatib, the Office’s chief, told ANBA during the opening ceremony on Monday (22).
The ceremony featured folk Arab dances (pictured above). Apart from the consul, the event was attended by authorities including the ambassador of Egypt to Brasília, Alaa Roushdy, and Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce president Rubens Hannun. “With the art showing, the festival offers Egyptian history, literature, art, travel, trade and investment,” said the ambassador, stressing the event’s relevance in a city such as São Paulo, which he believes holds great promise when it comes to advancing economic relations with Egypt. Roushdy believes the event helps promote Egypt in industries like tourism.
The Arab Chamber supports the Festival, which, in turn, contributes to one of the Chamber’s pillars according to Rubens Hannun: bringing Arab culture and information to Brazil. “Commercially speaking, Egypt is very important. And culturally, speaking, an entire civilization was born there. We have a lot to see and learn from them. It is of the utmost importance that we have the privilege of having this festival in São Paulo. For the Chamber, whose purpose is to connect Arabs and Brazilians commercially, socially and culturally, it’s perfect. That is why we make a point of supporting it and will continue to do so. Not to mention that Egyptians are similar to us Brazilians when it comes to social relationships. This is why every Brazilian who travels to Egypt as a tourist feels so welcome,” he said.
The artwork will be on show at Club Homs, on Avenida Paulista, and at Saphira & Ventura Galeria, in the Jardins neighborhood. The four featured artists were invited by Egypt’s Office and are currently in Brazil. They are: Ahmed Samir Farid, a cartoonist living in Cairo, Egypt; Neda Badran, an Egyptian-American who resides in São Paulo; Samar Kamel, who’s based in Dubai; and Lotfi Abu Sariya, who currently lives in Brussels.
The 80-plus pictures are on sale, and part of the proceeds will go to the Aswan Heart Centre, a hospital specializing in child surgery and maintained by the Magdi Yacoub Foundation in Aswan, Egypt.
Apart from the art on display, the festival includes a mini-pharaonic museum, stalls selling typical food, and movies. The program also includes lessons and workshops – including History of Cultural Evolution in Egypt, from 2 pm to 3 pm on July 31, with Mohamed Habib, president of the Institute of Arab Culture (ICArabe). August 1 from 7 pm to 8 pm will see Flávia Haddad teach a workshop on The Legendary Ramses II.
Saphira & Ventura Galeria will host a Vernissage starting 6:30 pm on July 25, and movie screenings under the Cinema na Galeria section of the festival, from July 27 to August 4. August 4 will also feature a lecture on Tourism in Egypt – Trip to the East, from 2 pm to 3 pm, with Hellen Marinangello; tea with artist Shahira Burkan; and a typical Arab henna painting experience, from 4 pm to 5 pm.
Quick facts
Egyptian Cultural Festival
10 am – 5 pm
July 23 – August 4
Club Homs – Avenida Paulista, 735, São Paulo, SP
Vernissage na Galeria
July 25, starting 6:30 pm
Cinema na Galeria
July 27-August 4, starting 7 pm
Chá e conferências na Galeria
August 4, starting 2 pm
04 de agosto
Saphira & Ventura Galeria – Alameda Lorena 1756, Jardim América, São Paulo/SP
Find out more: www.festivalculturalegipcio.info
Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
