IN PEACE AND WITH COMPASSION
The 2013 CARAVAN Exhibition of Art, titled “In Peace and with Compassion: The Way Forward,” took place first in Cairo, Egypt and then traveled to London, England. Following on the popular approach to public art that has featured painted animals, many thousands of Egyptians and Westerners in Cairo, Egypt in May 2013 viewed CARAVAN’s public art exhibition of painted/decorated life-size fiberglass donkeys (the donkey being a symbol of "peace and compassion" in both Islam and Christianity) involving 45 of both Egypt’s premier artists and noted Western artists.
After the exhibition in Cairo, the donkeys traveled to London, England to St. Paul’s Cathedral and were viewed by over 120,000 people while being showcased in the nave in during August/September 2013. The exhibition at St. Paul's Cathedral was followed by a charity auction at the Mosaic Rooms, London led by a Sotheby’s auctioneer to raise funds for charities in Egypt serving the poor regardless of creed.
CURATORS
Paul G. Chandler
Dr Reda Abdel Rahman
An author, art curator, social entrepreneur, and peacemaker, Paul G. Chandler has lived and worked extensively throughout the Middle East and Africa in leadership roles within faith-based publishing, relief and development agencies and with the Anglican Communion. He has curated exhibitions in places like St. Paul’s Cathedral-London, Egypt’s Museum of Modern Art, Washington D.C.’s National Cathedral, and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City.
Dr Reda Abdel Rahman is an Egyptian artist who lives and works in New York. He has enjoyed a prolific international career in the arts. He is also known for his vision of promoting artists and the Egyptian art scene. Dr Abdel Rahman's works have been widely exhibited around the world and are held in numerous collecitons. He has also received important residencies, such as at Mana Contemporary.
ARTISTS
45 premier Egyptian and Western visual artists were invited to participate in what was a truly unique public art-oriented exhibition for Cairo. Each participating artist was given two fiberglass donkeys (a life-size form and one that is 1/4 life-size) to paint as they wish according to the theme: “In Peace and with Compassion—The Way Forward”.
Gamal Ez
George Bahgory
Hakim Jamain
Hayam Abdel Baky
Hend Adnan
Hisham El Zeiny
Ibrahim El Dessouky
Karim Abd El Malak
Keizer
Khaled Hafez
Maged Mikhael
Marwa Adel
Moataz Nasreldin
Mohamed Abla
Mohamed Talaat
Omar El Fayoumi
Rania Fouad
Reda Abd El Rahman
Sabah Naim
Sameh Ismail
Shayma Aziz
Adel Nassief
Adel Tharwat
Ahmed Kassim
Ahmed El Kut
Alaa Awad
Ashraf Reda
Ayman El Semary
Ayman Lofty
Carelle Homsy
Emad Ibrahim
Farid Fadel
EGYPTIAN ARTISTS
WESTERN ARTISTS
Anne-Francoise Giraud France
Barbara Elnimra Gerber Switzerland
Britt Boutros Ghali Norway
Claire Marie Pearman UK
Cosima Lukashevich USA
Julie Oxenforth UK
Katrina Vrebalovich Norway
Kimberly Odekirk USA
Marian Villadsen Denmark
MARS Switzerland
Renata Dyk Poland
Renee van Lille-Demetroudes South Africa
Sonja Moser Austria
VENUES
May 9 - June 30, 2013
Church of St John the Baptist
Cairo, Egypt
August 30 - October 1, 2013
St Paul's Cathedral
London, England
In addition to the exhibition of "Peace & Compassion Donkeys," the following artistic events were held around the exhibition in Cairo.
FILM SCREENING
Our special film guest was the noted Egyptian actor Amr Waked (who has starred in films such as Lucy, Contagion, Syriana and Salmon Fishing in the Yemen), who gave a talk and a screening of his recent Egyptian film, Winter of Discontent.
LITERATURE NIGHT
The special literary guest was Dr Alaa El Aswany, the best selling novelist of The Yacoubian Building, who lectured and shared about his newly released book, The Automobile Club.
MUSIC CONCERT
MUSIC
Renowned oud player Georges Kazazian performed a closing concert on the 16th May. Georges Kazazian has published a dozen albums of his music which “capture a translucent way of playing the oud”. The concert was held under a symbolic artistic installation by English artist Claire Marie Pearman titled "99 Doves".