The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

Our lives are a series of stories, and it didn’t take us long to realise that stories are ingrained in every artistic (and non-artistic) endeavour. Every piece of art either tells a story or has one behind it, or even better, both. Here’s a brief exploration of some of the mediums in which powerful stories have been told throughout the years. 

Between Here & Elsewhere By Karim El Hayawan 

In 2022, Karim El Hayawan’s Between Here & Elsewhere photography exhibition followed an imaginary, subjective storyline created in collaboration between the artist and the viewer. The series of photographed domestic rugs in Cairo’s famous Mosques was intended to create a narrative that answers questions such as where the rugs came from, who owned those rugs, and what their histories were. 

Excuse My French By Amr Salama 

Inspired by Amr Salama’s own experience at a public school, the film narrates the story of a Christian boy mistaken for a Muslim at his new public school. After the truth comes out, he confronts a host of unexpected misfortunes. 

Amr Salama’s distinctive and daring storytelling highlights aspects of our culture and society that provoke controversy. Initially, the film was rejected by censorship boards, urging Salama to revise the script. After its release, Excuse My French succeeded greatly, offering an honest and bold portrayal of different social classes.

Granada Trilogy By Radwa Ashour 

Following the vanquishing of Granada, the final Islamic Kingdom in the Spanish Peninsula, people struggled to maintain their Muslim identities. They had to conceal parts of themselves to survive. The fictional trilogy consists of three novels: Granada, Maryama, and Departure. The Granada Trilogy is one of Radwa Ashour’s most popular and beloved works, winning best book of the year in 1994 by the General Egyptian Book Organization. 

Inner Dialogue Exhibition By Hazem Taha Hussein 

Hazem Taha Hussein is a visual artist, design consultant, and professor of visual communication design who has participated in exhibitions globally. His Inner Dialogue exhibition was a series of paintings exploring the artist’s inner world using abstract art, which he described as “his way of communicating.” 

Through abstract art, Hazem Taha Hussein claimed to have truly expressed himself in the virtual world he created within those canvases, enabling various interpretations by the viewers and allowing them to form their own “poetry and music” out of the pieces.