Abdel Hadi Al Gazzar
Encyclopedia
Abdel Hadi Al Gazzar (1925–1966) was an Egyptian
painter
. He occupies a unique position among the artists of his generation. Since his death, his work has not ceased to challenge artists, intellectuals and critics both in Egypt and abroad.
; he was son of a Sheikh, a religious scholar.
In 1940, his family moved to Cairo
and settled in the district of Sayyida Zaynab, in an old Arabic house in the poor traditional neighbourhood. Around him the young Gazzar experienced all the life and vibrancy of the old city, rich in medieval Mamluk
buildings and gracious Ottoman-era monuments. At that time puppet shows were still performed in the streets amidst the seething street markets and these, together with the succession Mawlid festivals celebrating Muslim
saints in this architecturally stunning setting, they were to have a profound impact on the artist's subsequent work.
At Helmiyya Secondary School, Al Gazzar attended courses at the 'artistic club’ organized by Hussein Youssef Amin, the founder of the Group of Comtemporary Art, in 1944; this group constituted one of the major early attempts to ground Egyptian arts in its own culture.
The artists embarked on a search for Egyptian traditions and applied folk symbols mixed with popular philosophy in order to rid Egypt
's art of romantic and unrealistic traces left by the earlier Western Orientalist painters. Al Gazzar was a member of this group, which included other Egyptian important artists such as Hamed Nada and Samir Rafi'.
In 1950, Al Gazzar obtained the Diploma of the School of Fine Arts, where he worked then as an assistant professor.
He had his first personal exhibition held at the Museum of Modern Art
in Cairo during the period December 17–24, 1951.
Al Gazzar obtained two scholarship in Italy
, in 1954 and in 1957. He visited the Schools of Fine Arts in England
, France
and Italy.
From 1958 to 1965, Al Gazzar participated in many national and international exhibitions, winning several medals and prizes. In 1965, shortly before his death, he participated for the second time in the Alexandria Biennial.
He died in 1966.
Many Articles for "the Islamic Post Magazine".
Two stories:
"Barber's Shop"
"Soul's Departure"
Private Collections:
Egyptians
Egyptians are nation an ethnic group made up of Mediterranean North Africans, the indigenous people of Egypt.Egyptian identity is closely tied to geography. The population of Egypt is concentrated in the lower Nile Valley, the small strip of cultivable land stretching from the First Cataract to...
painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
. He occupies a unique position among the artists of his generation. Since his death, his work has not ceased to challenge artists, intellectuals and critics both in Egypt and abroad.
Life and career
Abdel Hadi Mohammad Abdallah Al Gazzar was born on March 14, 1925 in the Akkabri district in AlexandriaAlexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
; he was son of a Sheikh, a religious scholar.
In 1940, his family moved to Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
and settled in the district of Sayyida Zaynab, in an old Arabic house in the poor traditional neighbourhood. Around him the young Gazzar experienced all the life and vibrancy of the old city, rich in medieval Mamluk
Mamluk
A Mamluk was a soldier of slave origin, who were predominantly Cumans/Kipchaks The "mamluk phenomenon", as David Ayalon dubbed the creation of the specific warrior...
buildings and gracious Ottoman-era monuments. At that time puppet shows were still performed in the streets amidst the seething street markets and these, together with the succession Mawlid festivals celebrating Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
saints in this architecturally stunning setting, they were to have a profound impact on the artist's subsequent work.
At Helmiyya Secondary School, Al Gazzar attended courses at the 'artistic club’ organized by Hussein Youssef Amin, the founder of the Group of Comtemporary Art, in 1944; this group constituted one of the major early attempts to ground Egyptian arts in its own culture.
The artists embarked on a search for Egyptian traditions and applied folk symbols mixed with popular philosophy in order to rid Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
's art of romantic and unrealistic traces left by the earlier Western Orientalist painters. Al Gazzar was a member of this group, which included other Egyptian important artists such as Hamed Nada and Samir Rafi'.
In 1950, Al Gazzar obtained the Diploma of the School of Fine Arts, where he worked then as an assistant professor.
He had his first personal exhibition held at the Museum of Modern Art
Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art is an art museum in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, on 53rd Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. It has been important in developing and collecting modernist art, and is often identified as the most influential museum of modern art in the world...
in Cairo during the period December 17–24, 1951.
Al Gazzar obtained two scholarship in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, in 1954 and in 1957. He visited the Schools of Fine Arts in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Italy.
From 1958 to 1965, Al Gazzar participated in many national and international exhibitions, winning several medals and prizes. In 1965, shortly before his death, he participated for the second time in the Alexandria Biennial.
He died in 1966.
Exhibitions
Some of the most important private and collective exhibitions:- 1946, Contemporary Art Group Exhibition, Paris, France.
- 1946, Contemporary Art Group Exhibition, Bab Al Louk Licee’.Cairo, Egypt.
- 1951, Modern Art Museum of Cairo, Egypt.
- 1953, Fine Arts Museum, Alexandria, Egypt.
- 1957, São Paulo Biennial, Brazil.
- 1957, Spring Exhibition, Cairo, Egypt.
- 1958, “Art in Fifty Years” International Exhibition, Brooklyn, USA.
- 1960, Venice Biennial, Italy.
- 1961, Alvolka Gallery, Rome, Italy.
- 1962, “The Revolution, Ten Years After” Art Competition, Cairo, Egypt.
- 1962, Fine Fans Society Exhibition, Cairo, Egypt.
- 1964, Cairo Saloon Exhibition, Egypt.
- 1965, Alexandria Biennail, Egypt.
- 1972, Contemporary Egyptian Art, Moscow, Russia.
- 1985, Mashrabiya Gallery, Cairo, Egypt.
- 1991, Portrait Art Exhibition, Cairo Opera Hall, Egypt.
- 1995, 70th Anniversary of Gazzar’s Birthday, Modern Art Museum of Cairo, Egypt.
- 2001, Safar Khan Gallery, Cairo, Egypt.
- 2003, Picasso Gallery, Cairo, Egypt.
- 2004, Creativity Gallery, Cairo, Egypt.
Awards
- 1942: 1st Prize for Painting, Helmiyya Secondary School, Cairo, Egypt.
- 1942: 1st Prize for Drawing, National Wide Exhibition, Cairo, Egypt.
- 1945: 1st Prize for Photography, in the National Contest for Art Products Exhibition, Denshway, Egypt.
- 1957: Bronze Medal Award, São Paulo Biennial, Brazil.
- 1957: Golden Medal Award, Arab Salon in Rome, Italy.
- 1958: 1st Prize for Mural Painting Design, Cairo Court Complex, Egypt.
- 1958: Silver Medal Award from the Italian city of Bari, Italy.
- 1958: Henry Moore Statue Prize, the International Exhibition "Fifty years of Arts",Brussels, Belgium.
- 1958: Silver Medal Award from the Italian city of Palermo, Italy.
- 1962: 1st Prize for his painting "The Charter", in the competition " The Revolution , Ten Years After ", Cairo, Egypt.
- 1963: 1st Prize, the 40th Cairo Salon, Egypt.
- 1964: Golden Medal Award, the 41st Cairo Salon, Egypt.
- 1964: Medal of Arts & Science and State Incentive Award for his painting "The High Dam". Egypt.
- 1964/1965: State Incentive Award in Photography, Cairo, Egypt.
- 1965: Full-time Grant Art, Ministry of Culture and National Guidance, Cairo, Egypt.
- 1966: 2nd Prize for Photography, Alexandria Biennial, Egypt.
- 1998: Medal Award by the Second Scientific Conference, Fine Arts Faculty, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt.
- 2006: The Golden Feather by the 4th Honorary Exhibition for Artists, Cairo, Egypt.
Writings
Folk Poems.Many Articles for "the Islamic Post Magazine".
Two stories:
"Barber's Shop"
"Soul's Departure"
Collections
State Collections:- Museum of the Modern Egyptian Art. Cairo, Egypt.
- Museum of Faculty of Fine Arts. Cairo, Egypt.
- Museum of Faculty of Fine Arts. Alexandria, Egypt.
- Port Said Museum. Egypt.
- Banha Museum. Egypt.
- The Arab Museum of Paris, France.
- Museum of New Delhi, India.
Private Collections:
- Art Lovers Association. Cairo, Egypt.