Egypt, oh Abla...

Product details

Egypt, Oh Abla, by Mohamed Elba… “The first gift I ever received was a box of colored chalk from the headmistress of my primary school, ‘Abla Nagia,’ who used to punish me for my scribbles, which she considered defacing the school walls. Things changed after the art inspector visited the school and asked me to draw a football match between Al-Ahly and Zamalek on the blackboard. When I finished, and he was impressed, he recommended that the headmistress reward me, saying, ‘Take care of him… he’s an artist.’ This nickname stayed with me from that day on throughout my school years, and it became an excuse for me if I made any mistake: ‘He’s an artist, after all.’ With the sensitivity and boldness of a courageous artist’s brush, Mohamed Abla takes us through this book on a rich and inspiring journey filled with struggle and images of resilience for the sake of art. The pivotal years of study at the Faculty of Fine Arts in Alexandria occupy a large part of the artist’s memories, during a difficult period: the 1970s.” A period marked by numerous changes and transformations, where the political and religious spheres intertwined, impacting every detail of daily life, reveals how he and his contemporaries navigated its ups and downs. He lived through the difficult early years, framing their anxious questions with the spirit of an adventurer eager to embark on numerous artistic and human experiences. The influence of these experiences is clearly evident in his later work, shaping and contributing to the development of his artistic output. The artist writes his firsthand account of his experiences with utmost honesty, simplicity, and spontaneity, emphasizing the richness and vitality of his journey. He also reflects on some of the cultural and artistic figures he encountered throughout his career, some of whom offered support, while others failed him.