Running parallel to the Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF), the Visual Narratives exhibition by Art74 captivates visitors with its immersive display of cinematic visual arts. Hosted at Cinema Radio in collaboration with CIFF, the exhibition is open until 22nd November. It offers a unique exploration of how cinema and visual arts intersect.
Bridging the Gap: Visual Arts and Cinema
The exhibition presents a diverse array of interactive installations, miniature film sets, video projections, digital art, photography, and sculptures. These exhibits aim to reflect the static side of the cinematic world through the display of traditional visual arts, offering visitors a fresh perspective on storytelling.
Highlights include the renowned Beyond The Spotlight Series by Ahmed Hayman, first displayed at the Gouna Film Festival in 2018. Known for its intricate details and emotional resonance, this series stands out as a testament to the power of still imagery.
Highlights of Photography Series
The exhibition features photography that captures everyday life with cinematic brilliance:
Karim El-Hayawan's Collecting Stars captures iconic Egyptian cinema figures at Cairo's Saturday Market in 2024, a nostalgic homage to Egyptian culture.
Yousef Ihab's series, shot over several years, offers a glimpse into still, unfiltered moments from everyday life.
Sara El-Tonsi's digitally manipulated images blend reality and imagination.
Clockwise
One standout display is Sameh Al-Tawil's short film, Clockwise, which explores profound themes of death and rebirth through haunting imagery. The film explores the fluid nature of the concept of time in its forwardness, reverse, and looping. The film's artistry and depth have made it an exhibition highlight.
Innovative Set Design
The exhibition also showcases miniature film sets, such as Hussein Kamal's World by Ahmed Fayad, and The Land by Nermeen Hammad, which beautifully depict the vibrancy of Egyptian streets and landscapes.
This exhibition complements the other Cairo Opera House and Cairo Design District exhibitions. They contain works by the same artists and so much more. They are definitely worth checking out by every cinephile.
