SODIC

Last Tuesday marked the opening of the 8thCARAVAN travelling exhibition of visual art “THE KEY”. Sponsored by SODIC, the exhibition which opened at the Nile Art Gallery in Cairo showcased the work of 40 premier and emerging Egyptian, Middle Eastern and Western artists using the world’s most ancient symbol of harmony, that originated in Egypt, the “Key of Life” (Ankh) to deliver a message of hope for a harmonious, peaceful and tolerant world. The event portrayed each artist’s modern three-dimensional fiberglass depiction of the ancient “Key of Life” using the symbol to advocate for the message that all people, from East and West, can live in a peaceful and harmonious world. The key symbol, known in Egypt as the Ankh, the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic character that reads “life”, is seen as the oldest known symbol of pluralism, tolerance and harmony.

The opening was hosted by SODIC’s Managing Director, Magued Sherif, Caravan Founder, Reverend Paul-Gordon Chandler and attended by his Excellency Artist and Egypt’s Ex-Minister of Culture Farouk Hosny, and special guest Azza Fahmy , as well as a number of renowned artists, public and social figures.

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The traveling exhibition, which debuted in Cairo, is scheduled to run through 12 April at the Nile Art Gallery, it will then move on to travel to London where it will be running from June 15 to August 15 at James’s Piccadilly and will finally travel to New York in the fall where it will be showcased in its final destination at Riverside Cathedral.

Commenting on the exhibition Paul-Gordon Chandler, Founder and President of the CARAVAN said “At a time when stereotypes and media hype are increasing the ever widening divide between the Middle East and West, creating growing misconceptions and apprehensions about each other, THE KEY, a strategic East- West art exhibition, seeks to change perceptions and speak directly to the global unconscious”. “We believe that the arts play a large role in Egyptian society, and provide a powerful platform for communication beyond the capacity of words. We believe it is our duty to support local arts and to provide communities that interweave superior design and architecture with authentic Egyptian and international Art.” said Magued Sherif Managing Director of SODIC.

THE KEY exhibition is co-curated by CARAVAN Founder and President, Rev. Paul-Gordon Chandler, and noted Egyptian artist Dr. Reda Abdel Rahman, who is also the sculptor of the form for the Ankh for this show case as well as one of the participating artists.