The Diaa Gallery in Zamalek hosted the opening of exhibitions by artists Hassan Ghanem and Randa Ismail, amidst a large gathering of art enthusiasts and public figures.
The exhibitions were inaugurated by journalists Sherif Kandil and Mohamed Harby, artist Mohamed Abdel Moneim, and art critic Hisham Kandil. Both exhibitions will run for two weeks.
Dr. Hassan Ghanem's exhibition is titled "The Fugitive from Beni Hassan," while artist Randa Ismail's exhibition is titled "Where To?"
The opening was attended by a host of artists and critics, including artists and professors Khaled Sorour, Ahmed Abdel-Karim, Shams El-Qarnafli, Sami El-Balshy, Adel Tharwat, Magdy Anwar, Adel Kabida, Osama Nashed, Nader Helal, Nasan Doss, Ibrahim El-Buraidi, media personality Marwa Ezz El-Din, Saudi journalist Abdullah Al-Jumaili, Wahba El-Attar, Ehab El-Asyuti, Sohair Othman, Magda Ali, Nermin Hakim, Emal El-Basha, Nemat El-Dweiry, Mohamed Hesham, Hassan Daoud, poet Saadni El-Salamouni, Samir Abdel-Ghani, Samir Abdel-Fadil, Maha Abdel-Karim, and media personality Tarek Abdel-Fattah.
Also present were Dr. Mohamed El-Sabban, Vice President of the Syndicate of Visual Artists, and artists Shaaban El-Husseini, Nahar Marzouk, Fathi Ali, Reda Khalil, Sameh Omar, Atef El-Shafei, Mohamed Thabet, Dr. Enas El-Hindi, Asmaa Sami, Adham Lotfi, businesswoman Faten El-Husseini, Marwa El-Fakhrani, Maher Abdel-Qader, and others.
Artist Randa Ismail, a graduate of the Faculty of Engineering, Architecture Department, left engineering to dedicate herself entirely to art. She has held numerous solo exhibitions and participated in many group exhibitions, and her works are held in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art and other institutions.
Regarding her exhibition "Where To?", Randa Ismail says: "It's not a question, but rather a state we are born into and continue to live through—a journey that never stops, a relentless pursuit. There is no clear path, no certain destination, but we move forward with hope in our hearts, a light that never fades. The destination remains open, and the question remains."
The exhibition features fifty new paintings by Randa Ismail in various sizes, drawing inspiration from the Egyptian environment, particularly the oases and Nubia, with their houses, decorations, breathtaking nature, and the simplicity of their people. Her art generally addresses human and social issues.
The second exhibition by artist Dr. Hassan Ghanem, titled "The Fugitive from Bani Hassan," features sixty graphic and painting works. Ghanem is a distinguished graphic artist, photographer, and sculptor with numerous participations both in Egypt and abroad.
Regarding Hassan Ghanem's artistic journey, critic Ayman Abu Zeid says: "When I saw and heard Hassan Ghanem's biography firsthand, I learned the extent of the many roles he has played, from teacher and administrator to mentor, coordinator, researcher, and doctor, both in Egypt and internationally. He practices all forms of art, including painting, photography, graphic design, sculpture, and ceramics, the latter of which demanded considerable time and effort from him, yet to which he contributed significantly."
Ghanem gave boundlessly to the people, the place, and the artistic community around him. This dedication, characterized by continuous and sustained effort, allowed him to maintain a cumulative body of work, earning him the special place he deserves.
As others aspire to it, but unfortunately, it added all these sincere efforts to others already, like a bird swimming in the world in search of sustenance and returning after its journey to land its sustenance on someone else’s nest, then starting again swimming in another world of the paths of art.
