Opened until 12 May, it is being held on the sidelines of the annual flower show also taking place at the museum.
Deyarna features 60 pavilions showcasing diverse craft. Assiut governorate is the guest of honour at this year’s exhibition, showcasing the governorate’s most prominent products.
Ahmed Al-Shafei is a traditional Arabic handwriting teacher and participating artist in the exhibition. “I write the names of visitors to the fair and gift them each a card with their name in an attempt to revitalise the Arabic handwriting tradition and make people familiar with the art,” Deyarna told Al-Ahram Weekly.
Traditional craft need more support and citizens need to be more aware of them, Al-Shafei said. “A person buying a piece of art is buying something made by a craftsman preserving their heritage, identity, and a piece of history. If there is a craft that is close to disappearing, it should be given support by the state and citizens. These craft are the soft powers of the country,” he said.
Ahmed Wahba, an artist from Kharga Oasis who draws traditional paintings using glue and naturally coloured sand, also participated in the fair. Wahba tries to make the pieces out of traditional materials from his surrounding environment. “I have customers from different backgrounds. Whoever is buying my paintings is taking back home a souvenir, a memory that represents Egyptian heritage with them,” he said.
Sahar Ramadan makes handmade copper medical jewellery. “Our ancestors, the ancient Egyptians, always wore jewellery made from copper because they knew the benefits it had for the human body as it gets rid of pain in the joints and any excess electricity in the body, to name a few,” Ramadan said. While the fair is an opportunity to market their products, she said a permanent exhibition for local handicraft was needed.
Mohamed Yousri, from the Alexandria branch of Donietna (Our World) Foundation for the seeing impaired, specialises in handmade carpets and is also a trainer. Yousri said they try to develop their products to meet the tastes of various customers. Moreover, they try to find local sources for some of the material they use so that prices are not too expensive for customers.
The audience, mostly females, showed their interest in the handicraft they saw at the fair.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 24 April, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
Short link: