Kalfayan Galleries are pleased to present the solo exhibition of Greek-Egyptian artist Farida El Gazzar titled ‘Night Garden’. The exhibition at Kalfayan Galleries (11 Haritos Street, 106 75, Athens) opens on Thursday, 19 December 2019, 20.00 – 22.00.

The works presented in the exhibition unfold a personal journey to a magical world inspired by Cairo. Born in Alexandria and drawing inspiration from Egypt and artists like David Hockney, Thomas Demand and Karen Kilimnik, manuscripts, byzantine icons, Arab literature and the poetry of C. P. Cavafy, Farida El Gazzar is driven by an inner need to “draw” moments of meditation in lush “night gardens”.

As the artist states:

“As we often throw ourselves out into our daily automated rituals with duties and chores, we sometimes stop becoming aware of our thoughts, missing out on parts of our being and existence. There are days where the noise becomes so overwhelming we can no longer hear or feel. We are lost and emotionless.

Then there is this silence that begins with dusk and evolves into a more magical place to a night that grows. It illuminates and magnifies through the stark light that peaks through and draws you into its world.

Within this discovery is a parallel existence of curiosity and imagination. There is a feeling of something hidden, waiting to be revealed and acknowledged. Yet it only lasts for a brief moment as it is ephemeral. Knowing that you have little time to find it, makes you anticipate, to come back, to look for more. You can hear your thoughts now and feel your emotions. You find yourself in these gardens that night paints and you know somewhat that you are safe again.”

Farida’s vintage framed, dreamy landscapes of night gardens invite the viewer on a journey of meditation and self-reflection. They are a peaceful oasis in the emotional desert of modern day life.

Short bio

Farida El Gazzar was born in 1975 in Alexandria, Egypt. She is a Greek-Egyptian artist based in Athens. From 2003 to 2007, she was co-founder of the creative team WARDA. Her ongoing relationship with the Middle East is a result of her early years in Alexandria and Kuwait and has been realized more recently through her residencies and research in Cairo and Manama. Recent Exhibitions: Art d’Egypt 2019 and 2018, Cairo; ‘Opening Remarks’, Athr Gallery, Jeddah (2018); Art Basel Miami, solo show in Kabinett section with Kalfayan Galleries (2017)  and ‘NP or the Possibilities of Life’ (locus Athens),  Athens; ‘Dream City’, Gypsum

Gallery, Cairo (2015); ‘Arabic Without A Teacher’, Kerameikos,  Athens; ‘Ofthalmofanes’, Technopolis, Athens ( all 2010); ‘Rehang’, (curators: November Paynter and Sylvia Kouvali), parallel event to the 11th International

Istanbul Biennial, Grand Hotal De Londres, Istanbul; ‘Thirty Posters on Migration’ IMEPO (Hellenic Migration Policy Institute), Syntagma Metro Station, Athens; ‘The Ultimate Experience’ Al Riwaq Gallery, Bahrain (all 2009). Farida El Gazzar is represented by Kalfayan Galleries, Athens-Thessaloniki.