Inauguration of the World of Shadi Abdel Salam Exhibition
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| Alexandria, 21 March 2005—The Bibliotheca Alexandrina (BA) is celebrating the Diamond Jubilee of the Egyptian director, screenwriter, costume and set decoration designer, Shadi Abdel Salam, 24-27 March 2005, when The World of Shadi Abdel Salam Exhibition will be inaugurated officially. The exhibition is considered the first gallery in Egypt dedicated to a filmmaker. |
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Shadi Abdel Salam, was a firm believer in cinema being a historical documentation for future generations. Sherif Mohie Eldin, Director of the BA Arts Center, announced that the director played a significant role in the development of Egyptian cinema through his film Al-Mummia (The Night of Counting the Years), that placed the Egyptian cinema on international levels. He pointed out that BA has acquired many of the artist’s design sketches and paintings and some of his personal belongings including pieces of furniture and his library and placed them on display in The World of Shadi Abdel Salam Exhibition.
Nesrine El Sabban, Curator of the World of Shadi Abdel Salam, stated that the exhibition includes a collection of the artist’s portraits of set decorations and costumes for some of his films such as Wa Islamah, Antar Ibn Shadad, Almaz wa Abdu Al-Hamouli, and Amir El-Dahaa. In addition to 1300 books and references from his library on ancient Egyptian civilization, Islamic civilization, arts and architecture, Egyptian history, cinema and theater, African civilization, and literature are on display. The exhibition also exhibits some of his furniture, copperware, medals, prizes and certificates. A special room for film shows will be dedicated to displaying his films and the press meetings during the celebration.
The celebration, spanning five days, starts on 24 March, where the first day will witness the inauguration of the World of Shadi Abdel Salam Hall, followed by a theater performance, The Desert of Shadi Abdel Salam, performed in the Great Hall by the Cairo Opera Dancing Theater Company, directed by Walid Aouni. This will be followed by the screening of the film Al-Mummia (The Night of Counting the Years), 1969.
The following day, 25 March, will feature a lecture about the screenplay of Shadi Abdel Salam’s movie, The Tragedy of the Great House, Akhenaton, by the critic, Samir Farid. The film Shakawa Al-Fellah Al-Faseeh (Tale of the Eloquent Peasant), 1970 and the documentary Afaaq (Horizons), 1972, will then be presented.
On 26 March, a lecture will be held on the architecture of houses and tents in Idfu and their origin, featuring the art director, Salah Marei. The documentaries Goyoush Al-Shames (Armies of the Sun), 1974 and Korsi Tutankhamun (Tutankhamen’s Chair), 1982 will then be presented.
On the last day, 27 March, a lecture on Shadi Abdel Salam’s optical sensitivity, featuring the plastic artist, Mostafa El Razzaz, will be held, followed by the documentaries Al-Ahram wa ma Qablo (The Pyramids and Before It) 1984 and Ramsis Al-Thani (Ramses the Second) 1986.
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Shadi Abdel Salam’s
library collection |
Section of
the exhibition |