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

Over
the past two months, Townhouse Gallery
of Contemporary Art has been insanely busy with over three exhibitions held
simultaneously! The Cairo
winter buzz has created the perfect atmosphere for braving the cold to
warm up with a little art.  

This
exhibition in particular has had this reviewer giddy with intrigue as Townhouse
artist-in-residence- Asuncion Molinos- finally revealed her months of
Cairo-based work to the public. Opening to a full house on December 13th and
continuing until January 25th, the exhibition is hosted by Townhouse but is
showing off-site at the lower level of CIC’s space on Abdel Khaleq Tharwat Street
in Downtown Cairo.

Titled
‘Untitled 3 (WAM) World Museum of Agriculture,’ the exhibition was originally
inspired by the aesthetics of Cairo’s Agricultural
Museum and through that, Molinos put forward an alternative look into the
current agricultural situation, on both a local and a global scale.

The
space is divided into three main rooms, where Molinos has used the aesthetic
principles to create a vista based off an old-school museum design of cabinetry: objects and text play off one another with multiple perspectives, raising
curiosity about the processes of food production and the cultural impacts
within.

Enabling
positions, myths and opinions as well as data and truth to chaotically come
together, Molinos has created both a physical and a mental space for viewers to
critically engage with the topics at hand. This crafted social arena includes topics
ranging from food security to sovereignty and the use of biotechnology.

Particularly
astounding when it comes to the genetically-modified foods industry is the Doomsday Seed Vault installation, which explains the lengths to which the industry will go to maintain a safety net of
resources if ever survival is sparse.

Not
only does this exhibit put forth a wide array of contemporary issues in the
agricultural world; but it also provides a look back on the transformation of
museums alone. From small, stuffed rooms of wonder to large spaces involving
high-end technology, their very essence as a cultural hub has not changed. With
one of the key goals in mind to display information, as it pertains to the
local society, museums spark thought and discussion while maintaining a sense
of collective identity of those engaging with it.

Through
Molinos’ exceptionally created instalments and their juncture with the formally
mentioned aesthetics, agricultural knowledge is displayed coherently and
imaginatively. The artist provides multiple viewpoints on the subject of
agriculture, which is often deemed an undeveloped topic when discussed in a
modern setting. For Molinos, though; it couldn’t be more applicable.  

Don’t
miss this exciting exhibition and its enlightening experience!