When one usually thinks of Egypt, they immediately resort to images of the Pyramids, ancient Egyptian history and the pharaohs that reigned. Folklore, however, is also very much a part of the Egyptian identity – so much so that there are still so many phrases, sayings, and elements of Egyptian folklore that have been passed down through generations and are still alive in our everyday. The richness of the Egyptian folklore culture stands as a testament to modern-day Egypt in a variety of aspects – from well-known proverbs such as ‘Ein Kan Habibak Asal, Matelhasoush Kolo’ (If Your Love is Honey, Don’t Eat it all), to stories such as ‘El Nadaha’ (The Wailing Woman) and even the colorful traditional dress of rural Egypt. All of these elements, and so much more, have been used as a source of inspiration in a variety of ways- which brings us to the use of folkloric elements in contemporary Egyptian art. The art scene in Egypt is vast and diverse, and local contemporary artists range in style. That being said, there are a number of local artists who resort to folkloric elements in our…
Grazing Nostalgia: These Egyptian Artists Use Folkloric Elements in their Work
January 16, 2020
