Grab your recorders or pens for the artist’s First Scoop Interview…and your cameras!
Subject: Artist Hayam Abdel-Baky
On the 26th of January, I attended the opening of an art show in the Mashrabia Art Gallery (Champollion St.) where I witnessed the marvel of Ms. Hayam Abdel-Baky’s art exhibit.
In the invitation card, Ms Abdel-Baky (Abd El-Baky) named her show Words Into Face “مكتوب على الجبين” (meaning ‘Written on the Brow’, translated erroneously into “Words Into Face” on her invitation cards.)
Ms. Abdel-Baky’s art is truly unique and amazing. Upon first glance, you imagine her fantastic portraits on ‘batique’ canvas; an ancient Indonesian form of art. This is her second art exhibition; the first one was similar, but all the portraits were in one colour of assorted beige and brown. They appeared to be etchings on papyrus, but were water colour on paper.
For the new exhibition, they are splashed with various harmonious colours. As you approach each item, you will notice the intricate words spun into each abstract portrait. The colours do not clash and are perfectly blended into the portrait; the Arabic words are like old lace woven into the delicate hues of the fabric.
I asked Ms. Baky, “What type of material did you use?” She smiled and said that her canvases were actually paper, and not the canvas material used by artists.
“Are the colours wax, as done on batique? And, did you stencil in those words?” I enquired. She replied that the colours were actually normal water paint. The canvas paper was cotton-based, she explained, so as to absorb the paint.
Squinting at the writings, intrigued, I asked again, “Are these actual words?”
She smiled and said, “I will tell you a secret; all the paintings combine the quartet works (“الرباعيات”) of the late artist (& poet) Salah Jahin. I try to explore and experiment with new techniques. Actually, the words are scratched in or painted, with a needle.”
“No kidding! But that gives your paintings even more value!” I gasped. Art into art, I mused to myself.
She modestly replied, “But, I keep that to myself; it just inspires me while I paint.”
“Do you mind if your secret is exposed?” I asked her.
“No, I don’t really mind. I wrote into my paintings all his famed quartets, as I’ve been Salah Jahin’s fan all my life.”
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Ms. Hayam Abd El-Baky’s exhibition “مكتوب على الجبين” (Words Into Face) premiered on the 25th of January 2009 and will remain open for three more weeks.
Address: 8, Champollion St. (off Tahrir Sq. at the corner of SAS). Visiting hours from 11 a.m. till 8:00 p.m., daily, except Fridays.
Subject: Artist Hayam Abdel-Baky
On the 26th of January, I attended the opening of an art show in the Mashrabia Art Gallery (Champollion St.) where I witnessed the marvel of Ms. Hayam Abdel-Baky’s art exhibit.
In the invitation card, Ms Abdel-Baky (Abd El-Baky) named her show Words Into Face “مكتوب على الجبين” (meaning ‘Written on the Brow’, translated erroneously into “Words Into Face” on her invitation cards.)
Ms. Abdel-Baky’s art is truly unique and amazing. Upon first glance, you imagine her fantastic portraits on ‘batique’ canvas; an ancient Indonesian form of art. This is her second art exhibition; the first one was similar, but all the portraits were in one colour of assorted beige and brown. They appeared to be etchings on papyrus, but were water colour on paper.
For the new exhibition, they are splashed with various harmonious colours. As you approach each item, you will notice the intricate words spun into each abstract portrait. The colours do not clash and are perfectly blended into the portrait; the Arabic words are like old lace woven into the delicate hues of the fabric.
I asked Ms. Baky, “What type of material did you use?” She smiled and said that her canvases were actually paper, and not the canvas material used by artists.
“Are the colours wax, as done on batique? And, did you stencil in those words?” I enquired. She replied that the colours were actually normal water paint. The canvas paper was cotton-based, she explained, so as to absorb the paint.
Squinting at the writings, intrigued, I asked again, “Are these actual words?”
She smiled and said, “I will tell you a secret; all the paintings combine the quartet works (“الرباعيات”) of the late artist (& poet) Salah Jahin. I try to explore and experiment with new techniques. Actually, the words are scratched in or painted, with a needle.”
“No kidding! But that gives your paintings even more value!” I gasped. Art into art, I mused to myself.
She modestly replied, “But, I keep that to myself; it just inspires me while I paint.”
“Do you mind if your secret is exposed?” I asked her.
“No, I don’t really mind. I wrote into my paintings all his famed quartets, as I’ve been Salah Jahin’s fan all my life.”
------------------------------------------------------------------
Ms. Hayam Abd El-Baky’s exhibition “مكتوب على الجبين” (Words Into Face) premiered on the 25th of January 2009 and will remain open for three more weeks.
Address: 8, Champollion St. (off Tahrir Sq. at the corner of SAS). Visiting hours from 11 a.m. till 8:00 p.m., daily, except Fridays.
Two gallery curators will greet you at the premises. I met only fresh-faced young and beautiful Enas El-Sadiek, who's an artist herself, and has the evening shifts.
