As a population, we tend to view art in all its forms as little more than a mere hobby or a form of self entertainment. Those so bold as to actually want to make a living at it are labeled bohemians, leading a life without ambition. Those ‘bohemians’ would (and do) disagree, and up-and-coming artists are pushing back at this deeply embedded misconception with subversive work that shouts talent, hard work and intelligence.

Artistic talent and hard work are showcased this month at PhotoCairo4: The Long Shortcut, running until January 19, 2009. Amid the halls and walls of Contemporary Image Collective (CiC), Townhouse Gallery and the Hungarian Cultural Institute are examples of how artists’ work can be used as a mirror to reflect the pros and cons of our society in an unconventional manner, giving people something to think about and even, occasionally, a reason to react.

Initially a showcase for photography, PhotoCairo, now in its fourth consecutive year, has evolved into an international, multi-disciplinary visual arts festival that includes static art exhibitions, video installations, seminars, artist residencies, an artists’ workshop and, for the first time, a temporary publishing house. Participants include more than 20 artists from Egypt, Kuwait, the Palestinian Territories, Lebanon, Iran, Poland, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and Hungary.

Aleya Hamza and Edit Molnar curate the festival. “This years festival is the biggest one to date in terms of both the number of artists participating and the number of exhibitions and activities taking place.” says Hamza.

One of the main sources of inspiration for the festival is Cairo, the quintessential metropolis at the heart of a nation in perpetual turmoil and crisis. Living in the capital, one is driven to find informal structures and strategies to survive. The artwork also examines the transformations of the authority and the rhetoric of power through several media representations, while remaining interested in everyday routines, personal narratives and creative strategies adopted by individuals faced with being trapped in a rigid organizational structure.

PhotoCairo 4 incorporates a number of firsts, including a digital residencies program. During the four weeks leading up to PhotoCairo 4, four artists from Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine took up “digital residencies” in Cairo and Denmark to produce video and art installations that explore the ubiquity of digital technologies in daily life. Egyptian Mahmoud Khaled went to an art studio in Denmark, while Ala’ Younis from Kuwait, Larissa Sansour from the Palestinian Territories, and Raed Yassin from Lebanon came to the Townhouse Gallery studios in Cairo. The digital residencies are a collaborative project with the Danish Center for Culture and Development.

Courtesy CiC-2 The Shooter, single-channel video by Ihab Jadallah

Also for the first time, PhotoCairo is running The Publishing House, a two-month project that started in December at CiC. Three noted graphic designers — George Azmy, Sarah Infanger and Ganzeer’s Mohamed Fahmy — are working with editor Moataz Attallah to produce small, low-budget publications documenting the development of PhotoCairo 4 and the commissioned projects. The Publishing House is supported by Prohelvetia: The Swiss Arts Council.

PhotoCairo 4: The Long Shortcut December 17, 2008–January 19, 2009 Contemporary Image Collective 20 Safeya Zaghloul St Mounira, Cairo

Tel: +2(02)2794-1686

www.ciccairo.com Townhouse Gallery 10 Nabarawy St (off Champolion street) Downtown, Cairo. Tel: +2 (02) 2576-8086 www.thetownhousegallery.com Hungarian Cultural Institute, second floor, 13 Gawad Hosni St Downtown, Cairo Tel: +2 (02) 2392-6692 et