Brushstrokes & Revolutions: A lecture series on modern and contemporary Egyptian art.

Modern and contemporary Egyptian art has long been shaped by a dynamic interplay of local heritage, international influences, and socio-political change. From its inception, it has served as both a reflection of and a response to key historical moments, embodying the nation's quest for identity, independence, and cultural revival. As Egyptian art critic, writer, and former Minister of Culture Badr Al-Din Abou Ghazi (1920–1983) observed in 1956, modern Egyptian art was not an isolated phenomenon but a "national inevitability," deeply embedded in the fabric of society and influenced by the country's political struggles (Ghazi, 1956, p. 114). Similarly, artist Liliane Karnouk highlighted the role of art in shaping national consciousness and articulating post-independence aspirations (Karnouk, 1988, p. 1).

Throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, Egyptian art has functioned as a visual archive, tracing the nation's evolution from 19th-century modernization and European-inspired reforms to the rise of nationalism, the fight against British occupation, the socialist era, and Nasserist PanArabism—and reaching to the 2011 Revolution and the post-Arab Spring period. Yet, despite its significance, the political and social narratives embedded in this art remain underexplored. Beyond documenting artistic trends and styles, these works provide insight into themes of urban transformation, activism, and shifting cultural identities.

This lecture series examines the diverse historical and visual cultural dimensions of modern and contemporary Egyptian art, contextualizing it within broader discourses of identity, politics, and social change. Additionally, the talks will explore its role in transcultural exchange, international diplomacy, soft power, and cultural safeguarding, offering nonEuropean perspectives and narratives, besides highlighting Egypt's place within a global artistic dialogue.

Further information on the event series is available in the Programme and the Overview.

This lecture series is presented within the framework of the Maria Reiche Fellowship Program, under the auspices of the Graduate Academy and the Chair of Visual Culture in the Global Context.

Registration:
Please scan the QR code on the official lecture series poster or register here.

Organised by:
Dr. Hala Ghoname