A discussion about the photography book Paintings of the Pilgrimage: The Art of Expression of the Holy Journey will be held on Sunday 21 August at 8.30 pm at the Supreme Council of Culture.

The photographer, Ann Parker, has won many awards for the book and the editor, her husband, specialises in folk arts.

Ahmed Morsy, a professor of folk literature at Cairo University, will chair the discussion.

The book concentrates on the art of folkloric expression through the holy pilgrimage from a social and anthropological viewpoint. The book also relates the pilgrimage to the ancient Egyptians’ visits to their temples. Avon Neil, the editor writes in the introduction that the painters of these works are usually entrenched in their societies and most have professions other than painting.

He also calls for the documenting of these folkloric works by modern digital means, in order to preserve them.