Art Basel Qatar 2026
Kalfayan Galleries is pleased to announce its inaugural participation in Art Basel Qatar 2026, presenting a visually stimulating project of Greek-Egyptian artist Farida El Gazzar titled “Stillness in the Flux”. The presentation brings into dialogue a large-scale mural with an intimate series of vividly colored paintings on paper and cardboard, each framed in artist-selected vintage-style frames. El Gazzar’s work, specifically created for the project at Art Basel Qatar draw inspiration from Greece, Egypt and the Gulf, as well as from manuscripts, Arab literature and the poetry of Greek poet C.P. Cavafy (b. Alexandria, Egypt), Illuminating the dynamic dialogue between past and present, personal and collective memory. Aspiring to act as symbols of humanity’s journey to self-exploration, El Gazzar’s landscapes emanate a feeling of nostalgia and euphoria for this timeless dance of change, where East meets West in a fusion of ancient wisdom and modern insight.
The artist states about her new project proposed to be presented at Art Basel Qatar:
“Each one of us, in every corner of the world, searches for a place to call our own. We seek a safe haven — a peaceful sanctuary where our minds find clarity, and our souls embrace serenity. These moments of belonging are sometimes etched in memory, carried by scents or sensations. Other times, they are woven into our daily journeys. When we travel to distant places, we yearn for the new but also crave the familiar — seeking connections that unite us while honoring the differences that define us. In the process of becoming and constantly evolving, we discover, learn, grow, and reclaim our humanity. Realizing in the process that in essence, we endlessly become human again.
Having grown up in Alexandria, Kuwait and Athens, three cities that helped define and form my sense of foundation and identity, recurring themes from my early years come through and are reflected into my work, while at the same time are intertwined and brought forward with my current experiences and thoughts of our everchanging world. While these parts of the world are familiar and bring strong emotions, the experiences of new places or occasions also bring a rush of anticipation, feeling of excitement and the mysticism of the newly discovered.
More specifically while experiencing the energies of a landscape, when entering green spaces, I find myself invited into these trance-like sensations of layered experiences and memories. Moments of magical stillness that exist within, surrounded by the consistency of movement and evolving change around, only make these momentary incidents even more intriguing and full of optimism. In these isolated periods of contemplation, I am often drawn back to the physical reality of the presence of man-made forms and structures, reminders of our tangible existence. My mind dances between the conscious and the dreamlike, blending reality with imagination. Landscapes and architecture profoundly inspire my creative process. They stand as testaments to life and existence, fueling my curiosity and motivation. As I explore these places through painting, I come closer to understanding the element of being. The vitality of each place mirrors aspects of who we are and our roles within this world.
My new project of paintings to be presented at Art Basel Qatar is engaging with these landscapes, thus meditating on the ever-evolving systems that shape how we live, believe and create meaning, forming a unified dialogue between the seen and the unseen. Reminiscent remains of an old structure are just as fascinating as the development of a new futuristic skyline; the collision of heritage and hypermodernity brought together. These places become more than settings, they become mirrors to our collective journey as human beings, caught in the act of becoming again and again.”
