CANVAS GUIDE

THE SCENE

Building Bridges in Cairo

Running from 12-18 May, two exhibitions, 'Who is My Neighbour?' and 'The Peoples' Egypt Since 25 January' bring together 50 premier Middle Eastern and Western artists at the second CARAVAN Festival of Arts, taking place at St John's Church in Maadi.

We live in a fractured world. I've always seen it as my role as an artist to attempt to make wholeness.

           - Anish Kapoor

Due to the recent Egyptian uprising, the 2011 Caravan Festival of the Arts, scheduled for the first week of February (the UN's World Interfaith Harmony Week), had to be postponed. However, the unfortunate postponement of the Cairo CARAVAN arts initiative was replaced with the same intended outcome but on a far larger scale. As a result of what is now termed Egypt's 'January 25 Revolution', a parallel revolution has taken place in the minds of Egyptians about their value to each other... regardless of creed.

During the weeks of and following the demonstrations, an unprecedented coming together of Egyptian Muslims and Christians has been witnessed at the grassroots level as an inter-religious movement of the two faiths worked together side by side to re-shape their great country. This new spirit is symbolised by the widespread portrayals of the cross and crescent shown next to each other (often embracing each other in design) on signs, banners, walls, bumper stickers and T-shirts.

In celebration of the Egyptian Muslims and Christians who are peacefully together walking the road toward a new Egypt, the CARAVAN Festival of the Arts has been re-scheduled for 12-18 May. Hosted again at the historic St John's Church/Maadi in Cairo, with the desire to honour the building of bridges between Muslims and Christians that has taken place, the CARAVAN arts initiative comes out of a vision that the arts (visual arts, literature, film and music) can be one of the most effective mediums to enhance understanding and encourage friendship between Christians and Muslims, and East and West.

Our experience has shown that art is a universal language that has the ability to dissolve the petty differences that divide us. In this increasing chasm of misunderstanding and discord between faiths and cultures, our day calls for a whole new kind of movement: one that builds on what the two hold in common. In the words of Kahlil Gibran, the early 20th century Arab writer and artist, the CARAVAN exhibition seeks to highlight what Egyptians experienced in and through their revolution; "Your neighbour is your other self dwelling behind a wall. In understanding, all walls shall fall down."

To be officially opened on 12 May by United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative to Egypt, James Rawley, who will give a brief address, 50 premier Middle Eastern and Western artists will come together, submitting work reflecting the theme, My Neighbor. Additionally, in response to the enormous outpouring of expression from the Egyptian people, a parallel exhibition will be held at the church entitled The Peoples' Egypt Since January 25th.  A number of the CARAVAN participating artists courageously joined the protests in Tahrir Square, some for all 18 days. For this parallel exhibition, the participating artists have been invited to contribute artworks that have been created in response to the events of the Egyptian revolution. 

A diverse range of visual artists will participate, from one of Egypt's leading Contemporary artists, Mohammed Abla, to rising star Reda Abdel Rahman, as well as expatriate artists Britt Boutros Ghali and Roland Prime (who has also created a special artwork on the Egyptian revolution - see http://www.canvasguide.net/en/articles/a-british-artist%e2%80%99s-ode-to-the-egyptian-revolution.html). The initiative has generated attention from the global media and art world. As the popularity of the CARAVAN exhibition has grown so has the response from the global artists' community. While the majority of visual art will be painting, the exhibition will also include printmaking, photography and sculpture. Special literary and musical guest artists to the CARAVAN Festival include Mohammed Antar, world renowned Ney (Middle Eastern Flute) player and Khaled El-Khamissi, best-selling Egyptian author of the internationally acclaimed novel Taxi.

The CARAVAN Festival of the Arts is under the patronage of the historic St. John's Church in Maadi, Cairo, which was founded in 1931, to serve English-speaking expatriates living in Egypt.  What makes this exhibition so unusual is that it actually takes place within the church, a first for Egypt. Attendance is free and 20% of all art sales go to Middle Eastern charities.

By Paul-Gordon Chandler, Founder/Patron

WEEKLY PROGRAM of the 2011 CARAVAN Festival of the Arts

(Held at St John's Church/Maadi. Corner of Port Said Rd & Rd 17)

 *Opening Night of the Art Exhibition. 12 May at 7 PM (19h00). Opening Presentation by United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative to Egypt, James Rawley, with all 45 Arab and Western artists present (the exhibition will then be open through 18 May).

 *Literature Night. 14 May at 7 PM (19h00). Talk and book-signing by Khaled El-Khamissi, best-selling Egyptian author of the internationally acclaimed novel Taxi.

 *Closing Musical Concert. 18 May at 7 PM (19h00). A performance by Mohammed Antar, world-renowned Ney (Middle Eastern Flute) player.

For more information, please contact Rev Canon Paul-Gordon Chandler (info@oncaravan.org) or Roland Prime (rolandprime@ymail.com) or visit www.oncaravan.org

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