Description
ABOUT MAGIC OF THE ORIENT
“Magic of the Orient” is an artwork by the Egyptian artist Hossam Dirar. This artwork results from a stance on Orientalism. Before Napoleon’s expedition to Egypt, European artists had very few contacts with the Orient. When Description de l’Égypte was published and circulated in Europe, it became the most influential scientific and artistic documentation of Egypt. This publication had a profound effect on 19th century European art and managed to spread the style of visual art, fashion, architecture and literature called Orientalism. Dirar created this series of paintings to express his feelings about Cairo: this beautiful city, which has been destroyed in the last 50 years. Most of the historic buildings dating back to the period of the Orientalists and French colonization in 1798 were destroyed. Therefore, he chose a period in which life was peaceful and artistically rich compared to the decadence we are currently experiencing. Dirar recovers here the forgotten history of the city and the way of life of orientalists over a period of more than 120 years. The Magic of the Orient paintings is a canvas of inspiration and re-adaptation to the contemporary era.
“Abstract is my keyword. Nature is my inspiration. Mind, shapes, and imaginations are my basic elements. My art explores the magic of our heritage in a new contemporary vision & give ‘rebirth’ to old & traditional icons; with the genuine use of colors, calligraphy, icons, & patterns. Through my artwork I try to bring to life the beauty of old times, the depth of memorable images in a modern unique vision. Being different is thinking different. In my artwork everything is possible. Any color is allowed. All shapes, forms & colors can be mixed together. In Art a fish doesn’t have to be in the sea.” (Hossam Dirar)
Hossam Dirar is an Egyptian multidisciplinary artist. He obtained a BA in Graphic Design from the Faculty of Applied Arts at Helwan University in Cairo and a MA in Sound Art from the University of Barcelona. Following the Egyptian Revolution in 2011, Dirar produced his first paintings and after that began traveling around Europe gathering inspiration from various galleries and museums. His cultural uncertainty pushed him to delve into the world of Ancient Egyptian history in search for a cultural identity he can relate to and call his own. In this search, he discovered his interest in women’s rights and the beauty in the contrast of cultures in terms of beliefs, liberty and open-mindedness. As he developed his style, he began creating impressionist and abstract expressionist artworks. Today, his paintings can be seen as a graceful combination of both, impressionism and abstract expressionism.
