Artists interpret ancient Egyptian culture through modern design exhibition

The Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square, Cairo, is hosting a special exhibition titled "Formed by Dialogue" to explore the influence of ancient Egyptian civilization on contemporary art.

Seventeen designers and artists from various countries are contributing works that interpret ancient Egyptian symbols for modern life. These creators use historical motifs, such as the snake for eternity, the lotus flower for purity, the ship for discovery, and the scarab for good luck.

Rather than copying historical artifacts, the artists aim to build upon these ancient concepts to create pieces with modern philosophies and aesthetics. Nadine Abdel Ghaffar, the founder of Art de Égypte, says the exhibition demonstrates that the past is connected to the future. She explains that the goal is to move the concept of historical inspiration from theory into practical reality. The collection includes a variety of items such as furniture, textiles, sculptures, glass compositions, and jewelry.

The artists use traditional materials similar to those used in the Nile Valley, including granite, basalt, limestone, and alabaster. They also work with woods like acacia, sycamore, ebony, and willow, as well as glass, gold, and silver. Specific contributors include Jose Schneider from Mexico, Alana Burns from Mexico, Jiang Chuang Er from China, Joanna van Barreges from Costa Rica, and Lisa Lesonia from Switzerland.