AM Art: Sally El-Zeini - Inspired by Naguib Mahfouz

Sally El-Zeini, a prominent plastic artist, has left an indelible mark on the Egyptian and Arab art scenes. Her distinctive works exude joy through vivid colors and implicit symbols, making her signature unnecessary for identification.

In a recent interview, El-Zeini discussed her artistic message and highlighted her latest exhibition, a “extended” project spanning 2018-2022. This exhibition focused on the literature of Naguib Mahfouz, prominently featuring scenes that encapsulated a historical period. Embracing the “literature of the sixties,” El-Zeini captured the dreamy and inspiring essence of that era, depicting Egypt in a civilized, aesthetic, and revolutionary light.

The artistic project delved into the influence of the “Nasserist experience” on the literary movement of the sixties, exploring the impact of socialism on societal behavior and organizations. El-Zeini's paintings with “written texts” eloquently portrayed the distinctive features of this literary period, intertwining with the prosperous era in Egyptian cinema history, derived from novels by sixties writers.

Her project presented visual texts parallel to collective memory scenes, particularly the Master Scene, offering a unique perspective on influential cinematic moments. El-Zeini added her impressions, creating a distinct interpretation that diverged from the direct form of the cinematic scene.

Published in 1966, the novel retained its title when adapted into the film “Chatter over the Nile” in 1971, featuring a screenplay by Naguib Mahfouz himself. Starring Imad Hamdy, Magda Al-Khatib, Ahmed Ramzy, Adel Adham, Neamat Mukhtar, and Mervat Amin, the movie, produced by Ramses Naguib and directed by Hussein Kamal, unfolds after the 1967 defeat.

The narrative explores the lives of “mistails” seeking escape from daily misery on the float of actor “Rajab Al-Qadi”, expressing futility amid anger through the smoke of the walnut. An absurd scene unfolds, dominated by the character “Anis Zaki”, a Ministry of Health employee perpetually unconscious due to hashish. Amidst promiscuity and dancing, the journalist “Samara” observes as the reckless student “Sana” dances in a red dress, searching for fame.

Sally Al-Zaini's artistic approach encompasses spontaneous Arabic calligraphy reminiscent of sixties cinematic posters. She depicts characters based on her vision from the literary work, employing cinematic decor and combining scenes with her unique perspective.

Sally and Mahfouz's connection stems from a shared connection with locality, drawing inspiration from “folk heritage”. Growing up in Shubra, Sally's childhood memories and her grandmother's tales influenced her passion for traditional fashion. This passion, rooted in warmth and sincerity, reflects in her artworks, characterized by bright, warm colors inspired by intimate folk tales.

Her color palette, evident in various projects like “A Contemporary Vision of Al-Maqrizi’s Plans” and “In the Garden”, showcases a blend of optimism and honesty. In “Love Sonnets”, Sally explores folklore through vivid colors, leading to her 2018-2022 exhibition “The Scene”, where she infuses scenes in black and white with her imaginative, colorful character.

Source: The AsiaN