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EGYPTIAN MASTERPIECES FROM THE PHAROS ART COLLECTION 100 YEARS OF EGYPTIAN ART It is not often that a private collection is able to encompass in its entirety a dedication to providing a full overview of a century of art from a country, particularly in the Middle East. Christie's is honoured to be offering forty-three works from The Pharos Art Collection, a comprehensive grouping of works that captures the ingenuity and creativity of Egyptian artistic practice. Established in late 2006 early 2007 by a group of art appreciators and collectors spearheaded by Elwy Taymour, it was formed to initiate a joint institutional collection of Modern and Contemporary Egyptian art that could capture the progression of the development of artistic technique of the past century. Believing that Egyptian art was underappreciated and undervalued, the group consisting of the Taymour Family, Mrs. May Elaraby and Mr and Mrs Hisham Khazindar, set about establishing a structure and a strict artistic vision that has been curated and directed by Nihal Wahby, an artist herself. Their aim was to offer a different perspective to Egyptian art and expose the collection as a way to increase Egyptian art awareness, appreciation and exposure through discovering the hidden artistic value and untapped potential of art works that represent the essence of Egyptian art. The collection manifests the work of seven years of insightful curating and selection of important art pieces spotting the development of Egyptian artists during the different stages of their artistic practice and vision. The Pharos Art Collection marks a journey of discovery into various private collections, galleries and artist's studios to formulate a visual and insightful voyage to the core of Egyptian art. It encompasses works, amongst many others, by Modern masters Youssef Kamel, Mahmoud Mokhtar, Mahmoud Saïd, Effat Naghi, Seif and Adham Wanly, Mahmoud Moussa, Gamal El-Seguini, Mohammed Sabry, Inji Efflatoun, Abdel Hadi El-Gazzar, Gazbia Sirry, Adam Henein, Hassan Soliman and Contemporary artists Adel El-Siwi, Moataz Nasr and Mohammed Abla. Each piece works together to create a harmonious grouping that endeavours to provide insight into collecting and eras of art appreciation. In fact, many of the art pieces are documented in major Egyptian art literary references. The Pharos Art Collection reflects the intense effort of the curator, shareholders and artists united under the same vision to attain one of the most important private institutional collections of Egyptian art in Egypt and the Middle East. As a result of the current political events in the region, up until today, the collection has only been privately exhibited at the Pharos Holding premises in Zamalek, only once exhibited at an Art and Cultural event sponsored by SODIC in 2010 in Cairo. Through Christie's this season, art collectors and appreciators alike are able to be exposed to the captivating selection of works and by doing so realise the vision the group had first intentionally set out to do; exposing Egyptian art regionally and internationally. CURATORIAL STATEMENT The Pharos Art Collection's main inspiration is to portray the essence of Egyptian Fine art from its inception in the late nineteenth until the end of the twentieth century, marking the development and evolution of art and reflecting the soul and inspiration of the nation. The importance of Modern Egyptian art is exemplified through being one of the oldest in the region, making it the base of Arab Fine Art history. It is born from one of its most cultural cities in the region, one of the great civilisations in the world and the heart of the Arab world and Africa. It is important to emphasise the significance of the historical and cultural aspects and conditions that influenced Egyptian Fine Art since its inception; the establishment of the school of art in May 1908, the construction of the Suez Canal, the desire for independence and development at the beginning of the era resulting in the rise of Nationalist spirit, the tragedies of wars that hit the world and the region and revolutions that followed. As a result, Egypt experienced an overwhelming history that undoubtedly imposed itself onto both daily life and art. Consequently, artists and thinkers were dedicated to entrenching roots of liberty and identity into their artistic, literary and cultural practice. The Pharos Art Collection is a collaborative effort between an Egyptian curator, Egyptian shareholders, and Egyptian artists who are all joined under the same vision. Consequently, it is a representative collection with a vision on its own. In our collection, we focused on the artistic value of each piece aiming to recognise the untapped or undiscovered; drawn to the important art pieces that mark artistic development and awareness. Additionally, we have a huge interest in the artistic dialogue that is created between the different pieces, between history and the present as well as Modern and Contemporary art. Each of the works that form the Collection highlights our interest in exploring and exhibiting similarities and diversities that are sincere expressions of a unique artistic path. There remains a mysterious yet continuing artistic thread that runs through the Collection, relating generations of artists to each other in a nod to both the rich past and the present that they have each embraced. This unique thread allows the art to be open to unique interpretations and visions. Each piece offers a distinct individuality that combines a sense of an overwhelmingly rich environment, a dazzling history and an overpowering present which has allowed the Collection to take on a life of its own, pulsating in its vibrancy. This pulse is sometimes a renaissance, an awakening, or a shriek, and in other times a revolution. Consequently, it is our belief that art has the power to inspire dreams, to instigate the vision of a better world and as such we remain faithful to the capacity in which each and every work in the group contributes to the development of both art appreciation and mankind. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Christie's for offering a part of the Pharos Art Collection and in doing so allow this group of works to be accessible to international and regional museums, curators, art experts, art appreciators and collectors alike. (Nihal Wahby, January 2014) PROPERTY OF THE PHAROS ART COLLECTION, CAIRO

Youssef Kamel (Egyptian, 1890-1971)

Untitled

Details

Youssef Kamel (Egyptian, 1890-1971)
Untitled
signed, inscribed and dated 'Y.Kamel Roma 1925' (lower right)
oil on canvas
16 1/8 x 11 7/8in. (41 x 30cm.)
Painted in Rome in 1925

Provenance

Private Collection, Egypt.
Safarkhan Gallery, Cairo.
Acquired from the above by the present owner in 2007.

Special notice

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