Le Saint Esprit, El Roh El Kodouss (The Holy Spirit)

Executed in 2015, Le Saint Esprit/El Roh El Kodouss, meaning The Holy Spirit, is an exceptionally unique work rendered using the ancient technique of mixing natural pigments with gum arabic and lime on papyrus. The application of pigment on this support yields a distinct impression, as the surface material undergoes cracking and swelling in response to humidity exposure on fibre. This provides the painting a coarse and textured look reminiscent of a fresco. The abstract rendering of the painting comprising elementary geometric forms and contrasting tones representing elements of Pharaonic monuments that were crucial in contributing to Henein's artistic inspiration. This work is a testament to Henein’s ecstatic passion, ingenuity, and mastery for conciliating the fields of sculpture and painting in creating a modernist art that arises from a celebration of quintessentially universal and antiquarian patrimony.

Growing up into a family of metalworkers from Asyut in Egypt, Henein graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts of Cairo in 1953, specialising in sculpture making. With a curiosity to explore, analyse, and dissect the wonders of Mother Nature, he chose art-making as a means to break free from the concerns of everyday life, seeking solace in a parallel universe. Henein used sculpture as his principal medium to decipher the mysteries of ancient Egyptian art. Conversely, he believed painting to serve as a conduit for narrating the tales of nature and its interconnection with humanity.