The Food
I could write an entire blog just on this subject alone. I enjoyed so many delicious meals during the trip. From sidewalk Koshari (see Kimberli’s post) where I accidently drenched my entire plate with hot sauce (yum,) to the upscale Zamalek boat/restaurant on the Nile called El Pasha where I had [...]
The Art Scene
I had been spying on the burgeoning Cairo art scene via cyberspace for some time now. I finally got to see it in person at PhotoCairo4 which was exhibited at several venues all over the city (see Kimbeli’s post) and was quite impressed. In just a few years artists and curators who get most of [...]
Koshari, My Barbarian Workshop and Performance
On Friday December 19th, Malik, Sherin, Nizan and I went to Townhouse–which became one of our main bases–and had a series of good meetings with artists about their work. For a late lunch, artist Magdi Mostafa took Nizan and I to a nearby eatery of Koshari, an Egyptian high carb, [...]
Townhouse
This was my second visit to Cairo, and I continued to be impressed with the Townhouse Gallery as a vital center for art and community. Housed in a cluster of buildings in the mechanic’s district in downtown Cairo, its cultural presence is inclusive, expansive, critical, experimental, provocative, and constructive. The program is focused on contemporary [...]
John, Jennifer & Magdi
When I was invited to join the Public Programming team for the Cairo Biennale, so much went through my mind. I’ve been back to Cairo a few times since I immigrated to Los Angeles in ‘89 and with each trip my relationship to my hometown changes dramatically. In some ways it’s difficult to come home. [...]
Wow! Everyone’s all mad. I apparently understated the huge importance of a “renowned” yet “humble” artist by praising his video. Then I offered an insufficiently nuanced account by joking about whether a country should be drunk or not. This blogging sure is “problematic.”
The commentators obviously do not enjoy the humor [...]
Fortunately we pushed through jet-lag and stayed awake later than 9pm, and got to see a couple of the Photo Cairo venues at tonight’s opening. Townhouse was a central scene, with 2 galleries showing a lot of work, including much video, which was a great move for a photo show. Hassan Khan’s “The Hidden Location,” [...]
Just arrived last evening in Cairo, after the 24 hours it takes to get here from LA. This city is quite amazing, and all I’ve seen are the airport and a little bit of Zamalek, plus the drive between the two. The My Barbarian group is going downtown today to check out Townhouse Gallery - [...]
My Barbarian seeks participants interested in performance art, ages 18-40, male and female, for its workshop in Cairo, taking place from December 16-24, 2008. Non-artists who want to perform are welcome! Actors, musicians and artists of any skill-level are encouraged to participate. My Barbarian’s performance art project for the Townhouse Gallery takes the form of a performance workshop and public recital on December 24. The performance will include singing, comedy, and elements of video art in a playful discussion about art’s function in a community.
© 2008 MAK Center |