Hala El-Khoussy (Photo: Courtesy of Medrar for Contemporary Art)
A new collective exhibition from Medrar for Contemporary Art is designed to bring the public into the studios of 19 Egyptian visual artists who are varied in terms of age and artistic approach.
Following the opening on 16 April, audience members will be able to register to spend time in one of the artists' studios, where they can ask questions about their work or any other topic. The only rule is that you can't go empty handed.
Visitors are asked to bring a gift, which doesn't have to be wrapped or a physical object or even have been purchased from a store, according to Medrar's website.
The intention of the project is to break down the barriers of the exhibition space and invite audiences to gain a deeper understanding of the art works on display, one that will hopefully be greater than the usual passive viewing of work in a simple gallery.
This unconventional approach challenges the relationship between artist and spectator, but with the idea that the studio visits will be natural and unscripted. The audience member and the artist will talk over a cup of tea, bringing inspiration to both parties.
Registration for studio visits with the showcased artists can be done online or at Medrar’s venue in Garden City.
The artists include: Ahmed Badry, Ahmed Sabry, Ali Abd El-Mohsen, Ammar Abo Bakr, Amr El-Kafrawy, Dia Hamed, Ganzeer, Hala El-Koussy, Hamdy Reda, Hany Rashed, Hashem L. Kelesh, Kareem Osman, Khaled Hafez, Marwa El-Shazly, Mohamed Abla, Mohamed Taman, Sabah Naim, and Shayma Kamel.
Opened in 2005, Medrar is a non-profit collective that seeks to encourage cooperation and collaboration between artists through ongoing projects, workshops and events. They host the media arts collective Open Lab Egypt, run the Cairo Video Festival and the contemporary online art channel Medrar TV.
Programme:
Studio Hopping opens Wednesday 16 April at Medrar for Contemporary Art
The exhibition is ongoing until 26 April
7 Gamal El-Din Abu El-Mahassen Street, Garden City, Cairo
Studio visits can be booked online here.
Short link: