“Faraset El Naby” exhibition to revive long known Egyptian myth

CAIRO – 12 November 2017: El Hanager Arts Center will host “Faraset El Naby, La Tarqos wala Tosaly” [The Praying Mantis Doesn’t Dance or Pray] exhibition by the Egyptian contemporary artist Sabah Salem starting Monday until November 18.

Egyptians believed that the praying mantis is a creature that is seen as always praying, or imitating chanters’ spiritual movements.

Reviving Egyptian ‘Khayamiya tradition’, Salem blends Egyptian myths from Egyptian collective memory with contemporary arts through an exhibition that is accompanied with live Egyptian folk songs by Eyas Habib and Eman Salah.

Sabah Salem is an Egyptian contemporary Khayamiya artist. She participated in various exhibitions since 2007.

Acquiring outstanding decorative features, Khayamiya tradition was common in Egyptian heritage; it was related to tent makers and Ka’aba cloth (Kiswa).

Reflecting elegant Egyptian symbols, Khayamiya designs mainly include ancient Egyptian symbols such as the lotus, or Quran texts in Islamic calligraphy.

It simply features colorful hand-stitched cotton appliqués carrying heavy cotton back; it is designed to add more colors to plain tents cloth.

It also used to enhance the tent’s strength. It is employed to protect tent residents from hot temperatures and rain.


Khayamiya Battern [Photo Courtesy: Pinterest]