Magic Lamp, 2024
Produced with the support of the PinchukArtCentre
Courtesy of the artist.
In this work, I question a moment of rupture in Egyptian history which reconfigured class dynamics through engaging with the practice of late Egyptian sculptor Fathy Mahmoud. Mahmoud was known for his monumental public sculptures and reliefs commissioned by the state and for establishing a private mid-20th century porcelain factory. The work features an epistolary artist’s book, and a mural-like work made with fragments of shattered porcelain from Mahmoud’s iconic brand, I create a partial recomposition of a public work using shards from his porcelain sets. While the artwork embody the physical acts of destruction and reconstruction of nationalist language, The book is a contemplative inquiry through which intimate letters written to Mahmoud flow between fact and fiction, narrating a possible history and tracing dreams of alternative futures.
Magic Lamp, Porcelain on Marmox board, wood and binding, installation dimensions variable.
A Cup Of Tea With Fathy Mahmoud, 2024, A4 offset printed paper, edition of 50,000
