Eternal Light
Something Old, Something New
Egyptian Museum, Cairo
October 28–31, 2017

Art D’Égypte is pleased to present Eternal Light: Something Old, Something New, the first in a series of pop-up shows to be held at different heritage sites across Egypt. Curated by Nadine Abdel Ghaffar, Eternal Light will be on view from October 28–31, 2017, and will be inaugurated with A Night of Art at the Egyptian Museum where 16 artworks by Egypt’s foremost contemporary artists will be displayed against the timeless backdrop of pharaonic artifacts at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. The inaugural event will be held under the auspices of the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities, and H.E. Dr. Khaled El-Enany, Minister of Antiquities, will present the Egyptian Museum’s heritage preservation initiatives.

In a bold curatorial first, Art D’Égypte, a privately owned, multidisciplinary art consultancy, will allow guests the unique opportunity to observe contemporary Egyptian art in a profound dialogue with artifacts from Ancient Egypt. For one mesmerizing evening, attendees of Eternal Light: Something Old, Something New will be able to contemplate the flow of light and energy connecting the ancient past with the artistic vernacular of the present. They will see how the backdrop of ancient Egyptian artifacts imbues the contemporary works with deeper resonance and enhances their ability to build the next layer of the Egyptian story.

Simultaneously, the presence of contemporary Egyptian artwork in this setting will stimulate the audience to question long-held interpretations of ancient Egyptian culture.

In many people’s minds, Egypt invokes visions of either pharaohs, temples and pyramids or of the turbulent politics of the past six years. Little is known on an international level about the wealth of modern and contemporary art that seeks to transcribe the social, political and cultural issues of the present—or simply to portray contemporary daily life—by drawing on the visual motifs of Ancient Egypt that underpin the Egyptian identity to this day. Eternal Light: Something Old, Something New brings together works by Egypt’s most prominent contemporary artists to show the world that Egypt continues to play a crucial role in contemporary artistic and cultural life. The artworks on display draw upon various elements of the styles, movement, color and themes of Ancient Egyptian art and transform them into multifaceted conversations that reflect and reinterpret the complexity of Egyptian culture for the 21st century’s global audience.

In addition to creating new markets for Egyptian art and highlighting the complexity and richness of the Egyptian cultural landscape, the exhibition also aims to draw attention to rehabilitation initiatives at the Egyptian Museum. In conjunction with the planned events, Art D’Égypte has succeeded in helping the Ministry of Antiquities secure sponsorships from private sector donors for several vital projects at the museum.

Related Events

Saturday, October 28, 2017

- Inaugural event: A Night of Art at the Egyptian Museum (including a night tour of the

Museum)

- Culinary Tasting Ceremony: A menu inspired by Ancient Egyptian culinary art using

recipes developed by Mennat-Allah El Dorry (archaeologist) and Petra Pinke

(Restaurant Culinarium, Germany) from archaeological, artistic, textual, and

ethnographic evidence.

Sunday, October 29, 2017

- Pop-up show of contemporary and modern Egyptian art. Eternal Light something Old,

Something new curated by Nadine A. Ghaffar at the Nile Ritz Carlton (October 29–31,

2017).

- Presentations on Egyptian art history and heritage featuring:

-Sultan Al Qassemi—Founder of the Barjeel Art Foundation

-Gemma Tully, PhD—Research Associate in Archaeology and Egyptology, Cambridge University and Durham University

-Valérie Didier-Hess—Co-author, Mahmoud Saїd Catalogue Raisonné

-Nadine Abdel Ghaffar—Founder of Art D’Égypte

Interviews can be arranged upon request with H.E. Dr. Khaled El-Enany, Minister of Antiquities; Sultan Al Qassemi, founder of Barjeel Art Foundation; Eng. Samih Sawiris, Chairman of Orascom Development Holding; Nadine Abdel Ghaffar, founder of Art D’Égypte; and Egyptian artists participating in the exhibition.

Exhibition Sponsors

All events are privately funded by Art D’Égypte and exhibition sponsors:

Barjeel Art Foundation is an independent, UAE-based initiative established to manage, preserve and exhibit an extensive collection of Modern and Contemporary Arab Art. The foundation’s guiding principle is to contribute to the intellectual development of the art scene in the Arab region by building a prominent, publicly accessible art collection in the UAE and developing a public platform to foster critical dialogue around contemporary art practices with a focus on artists with Arab heritage internationally.

The Sawiris Foundation was founded in April 2001 as a grant-making foundation. Set up with an endowment from the Sawiris family, whose members include prominent leaders of the business world and the development community, it is one of the first family-funded foundations dedicated to social development in Egypt.

Environmental Quality International (EQI) is an internationally acclaimed investment and consulting firm specializing in natural and cultural heritage conservation, and sustainable development.

Commercial International Bank-Egypt (CIB) is Egypt’s largest private sector bank and the world’s best bank in the emerging markets. Over the years, CIB maintained its steadfast commitment to community development through diverse initiatives and programs that span fine arts, music, social care, and sports, and have a profound impact on the lives of its community by encouraging active participation in society and nurturing Egyptian talents.

Other supporters include Abercrombie & Kent, Daghash Group, Intertia, Hassan Allam Holding, Sahara Printing Company, Philips, and the Egyptian Center for Culture and Arts—Makan. MO4 media & production partner.

About the Egyptian Museum

Designed in the neoclassical style by Marcel Dourgnon and inaugurated in 1902, the Egyptian Museum on Tahrir Square was the first purpose-built museum in the world. It boasts 107 halls brimming with artifacts dating from the prehistoric through the Roman periods, with most of the collection focused on the pharaonic era. In 1983, the building was classified as a protected monument under the control of the Ministry of Antiquities.

About Art D’Égypte

Art D’Égypte is a privately owned Egyptian multidisciplinary firm founded by Nadine Abdel Ghaffar to support the Egyptian arts and culture scene. It provides art consultancies to institutions, corporations and private collectors as well as curatorial services to artists, art centers and foundations, art projects, public spaces, museums, and art appreciators. The team has a strong background and extensive experience in the Egyptian art market and aims to develop strong local, regional and international collaborations to enhance and promote the rich Egyptian art scene. The company’s strategy is to organize a yearly pop-up show in a historic place in Egypt to shed light on the country’s abundant cultural heritage and to connect the art of Egypt’s past with that of the 21st century. By raising awareness, the team’s target is to advance the international profile of modern and contemporary Egyptian art and to present a different view of Egypt to the world.

About Nadine Abdel Ghaffar

Nadine Abdel Ghaffar is a multitalented professional with a passion for art and culture. In 2003, she founded the interior design consultancy Veradeco and, since then, her hard work and dedication to art and design have helped her enhance the cultural and social development landscape in Egypt. In 2005, Abdel Ghaffar decided to take her love of art to a more professional level and established Art D’Égypte, a multidisciplinary art consultancy. She started organizing exhibitions in Egypt and Dubai to promote Egyptian art and artists, and she works tirelessly to expand her knowledge of the field and maintain her formidable connections to both collectors and artists. She is committed to documenting Egypt’s modern art heritage and promoting Egyptian art worldwide. Thanks to her exceptional experience and deep commitment to the promotion of Egyptian art, she has succeeded in positioning Art D’Égypte as one of the most exclusive and sought-after art consultancies in the region.