REDA ABDEL RAHMAN
The form used for Mediterranean Peace Donkey
139cm x 44cm x 176cm
For The Mediterranean Peace Donkey project, the now rare Maltese donkey was sculpted by the premier Egyptian artist Dr. Reda Abdel Rahman (who also sculpted the mold for the Egyptian donkey used in CARAVAN’s 2013 “In Peace and Compassion” exhibitions in Cairo and London). Dr. Rahman, after sculpting the form, fashioned a mold in Egypt which was shipped to Malta and then reproduced in fiberglass forms for the artists to paint.
Egyptian and Maltese donkey side by side in Cairo
The first two Maltese donkeys being made in Cairo
Making the donkeys in Malta
The finished Maltese donkey in the Malta workshop
Donkeys ready for collection by Maltese artists
Born in Ismalia, Egypt and having studied at the University of Minya at the College of Fine Arts, being surrounded by outstanding Pharonic monuments and Coptic monasteries left a lasting impression on Reda Abdel Rahman, one of Egypt’s leading contemporary artists. It has resulted in his artistic expression focusing on the relationship between what he regards as his ancient Egyptian heritage and the demands of contemporary life.
Not only has Reda enjoyed a prolific and international career in the arts but he has also encouraged others by participating in a number of varied initiatives designed to promote artists and the Egyptian art scene. In this regard, he has been integral to the formation of internationally recognized events such as the Luxor Painting Symposium and the formation of the annual Aswan Sculpture Symposium. He has led the Fustat workshops in Old Cairo that brings together a range of artists from around the Middle East. Reda also established an art magazine and curated a gallery in downtown Cairo, both titled Portrait. His artistic career has taken him around the world, from Latin America to Europe.