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Lot Essay
Executed in 1995, Ma jolie et moi (My darling and I) is emblematic of Samir Rafi’s poetic riffs on reality. The work invites a viewer to step into the realm of his subconscious, where his observation of everyday life bearing the weight of solitude and desolation finds depiction with radiant expressions of layered anthropomorphic figures. Through his manipulation of perspective, skillful handling of lines and shadows, he creates an unexpected surreal universe with his signature imagery of the female form, incorporating symbols from nature and memories of his formative years spent in Egypt. The symbolism in the artwork nods to ancient Egyptian and Nubian art, providing a foundation for discussions on emotive themes of kinship, camaraderie, and freedom.
Born in 1926 in Cairo, Rafi pursued a degree in decorative arts at Cairo's Fine Arts School in 1948. In 1954, he moved to Paris permanently and studied Modern Art and Museology at the École du Louvre from 1955 to 1958, and concurrently pursued his PhD in Art History under the supervision of Professor André Chastel at La Sorbonne. There, he met Pablo Picasso and the architect Le Corbusier. Inspired by European Surrealism, Rafi joined the Art and Liberty Group, which rejected any form of cultural alienation and propaganda and advocated for a more nuanced approach to literature and visual arts in Egypt. Rafi emerged as a prominent figure in modern Egyptian art alongside Abd al-Hadi El-Gazzar and Hamed Nada. Employing a Surrealistic perspective, he crafted narratives of Egyptian public life, interweaving elements of magic and folklore in his paintings.
Born in 1926 in Cairo, Rafi pursued a degree in decorative arts at Cairo's Fine Arts School in 1948. In 1954, he moved to Paris permanently and studied Modern Art and Museology at the École du Louvre from 1955 to 1958, and concurrently pursued his PhD in Art History under the supervision of Professor André Chastel at La Sorbonne. There, he met Pablo Picasso and the architect Le Corbusier. Inspired by European Surrealism, Rafi joined the Art and Liberty Group, which rejected any form of cultural alienation and propaganda and advocated for a more nuanced approach to literature and visual arts in Egypt. Rafi emerged as a prominent figure in modern Egyptian art alongside Abd al-Hadi El-Gazzar and Hamed Nada. Employing a Surrealistic perspective, he crafted narratives of Egyptian public life, interweaving elements of magic and folklore in his paintings.