Encoding is a current group exhibition at Soma Art school and gallery, featuring the work of artists Hoda Ragaa, Hosam El-Sawah and Noura Seif. The exhibition opened on 29 May and runs until 30 July.

Encoding presents multimedia personal narratives from the three artists, which communicate different obsessions they each have.

Ragaa’s wall sculptures of ceramic braille lettering stems from the artist’s interest in the power of communication.

“We don’t only speak to transfer our thoughts to others, but also to ourselves. And sometimes what we want to express might seem like codes to those around us, but to us it means a lot,” the artist says according to the exhibition programme.

Ragaa is an award-winning artist of ceramic sculpture, recently winning the Salon Prize in ceramics at last year’s Youth Salon.

Artwork by Hoda Ragaa (Photo: Soha Elsirgany)

Artwork by Hoda Ragaa (Photo: Soha Elsirgany)

For his part, El-Sawah’s framed miniature drawings and ink paintings are drawn from the loss of a dear friend.

His work and sketchbook explores this personal trauma and the culture of loss.

El-Sawah has exhibited a number of times before, and was given a one-year grant for video art production in 2015 from the Ministry of Culture and Bibliotheca Alexandrina’s programme titled Support Cultural Diversity and Creativity in Egypt. He has twice won awards from the Youth Salon, in 2011 and 2013.

Artwork by Hosam El-Sawah (Photo: Soha Elsirgany)

Artwork by Hosam El-Sawah (Photo: Soha Elsirgany)

In the third room at Soma, Seif’s multimedia project comprises of a shadow sculpture, a photograph, and a collection of small ink drawings and mono-prints on paper.

Her project surveys her childhood memories, and a personal relationship with plants.

Seif is a visual artist and contemporary dancer, who has exhibited her artwork extensively locally and internationally. She performed Free Radicals, choreographed by artist Doa Aly, at this year’s Art Dubai, and was part of the performance Shadow of a Fish by Hend El-Balouty in last year’s 2B Continued festival.

Artwork by Nora Seif (Photo: Soha Elsirgany)

Artwork by Nora Seif (Photo: Soha Elsirgany)

Programme:
The exhibit opened on 29 May and runs until 30 July
Soma Art School, 14 Maraashli street, Zamalek, Cairo

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