For two days, Mahatat for Contemporary Art will present City Shadows; a performance that combines sound and image, presenting photographic archives and alternative histories of the city of Port Said through stories.

City Shadows is the latest project initiated by Mahatat in partnership with the Drosos Foundation.

According to the event statement, “City Shadows is tackling the problem of youth and independent artists in finding a space to express their views and showcase their talents through exploring the many unused decaying spaces, abandoned or not accessible for citizens in our cities.”

A team of artists and researchers undertook field research supported by the European Cultural Foundation (ECF) in the city of Port Said, compiling information and knowledge on neglected spaces and exploring how to re-appropriate them for artistic learning and expression.

The photographic aspect of the project is curated by Nadia Mounir, with photographer Rana El-Nemr as artistic consultant.

Part of the project is a social media campaign inviting people to share photos and/or written text documenting abandoned spaces in their surroundings, using the Hashtag #‎cityshadows2016 on their personal Facebook pages or on Mahatat’s page.

The campaign asks people to think of questions such as “What is an abandoned space to you? How do you define it and what kinds of abandoned spaces exist around you and the places you live, work and commute?”

Participants will have their submissions compiled and published on Mahatat’s upcoming blog on abandoned spaces.

Mahatat’s projects aim at bringing art to people on the streets across several cities.

Programme:
Thursday 16, Friday 17 July at 8pm
Port Said, Abdelsalam Aref Street, behind Villa Vernand