Biography
Born in 1981, Alaa Awad is an Egyptian painter and muralist. Inspired by ancient Egyptian heritage and contemporary society, some of Awad’s most popular work includes scenes of celebration, victory, Sufism, Egyptian social life and culture. Currently, he serves as an assistant lecturer and PhD candidate at South Valley University (SVU), Faculty of Fine Arts. His PhD working dissertation title is, “Artistic Vision Inspired by the Murals of War and Peace in Ancient Egyptian Art” and will be released in 2019. His collegiate resume also includes an M.A. in Fine Arts from Helwan University and a B.A. in Fine Arts from SVU. Alaa Awad also serves as a demonstrator at the Faculty of Fine Arts SVU since 2006.
The Son of Liberty’s Heritage
Alaa Awad is an artist who knows how to benefit from his own diverse cultural and artistic Egyptian heritage. By employing both culture and heritage, he is able communicate a depth of richness and uniqueness into his work, taking on most especially, the inspiration of ancient Egyptian heritage. Perhaps millions within Egypt and nations throughout the world know of his funerary mural painted in 2012 on Mohamed Mahmoud Street near Tahrir Square. Alaa Awad’s mural harnessed the soul of the Egyptian People giving an unmatched yet muted voice to the tumultuous emotions and events that took place during the Egyptian revolution.
These murals, unfortunately, have been removed by authorities, in general, have a negative view of public art and therefore, cannot appreciate the art of painting on public walls, often mislabeled as aimless „graffiti“. The context of much of the public art on Mohamed Mahmoud Street contained significant mention towards the ruling authorities through significate periods of Egyptian history.
In 2003 Alaa Awad won the prize of the Al Shomoa Foundation for Culture and Arts, along with his colleague and companion, artist Ramadan Abdul-Maqtam.
I am thrilled to see his return to Al Shomoa Gallery. I consider Alaa Awad as the son of liberty’s heritage, the son of free art. Without conditions or restrictions, he possessive vast knowledgeable of his cultural heritage and takes great pride in incorporating his Egyptian identity with his work.
In 2012, Alaa Awad’s completed his master’s thesis, entitled, “The Influence of Gustav Klimt on Modern Mural Paintings”. The appreciation Awad has towards Gustav Klimt’s style and work has indirectly inspired his own work.
Awad’s murals contain intricate groups within the scene, taking in both ancient Egyptian inspiration and modern Egyptian topics. In addition to blending the old with the new, his expertise in bold and rich colors convey a feeling of sacredness and fluidity, revealing an open and invisible connection that is only felt by those with high sense of appreciation to heritage and history.
by Dr. Lotus Abd El Karim
painting on Papyrus – 2019
PAINTING ON PAPYRUS
50 x 70 cm
PAINTING ON PAPYRUS
50 x 70 cm
PAINTING ON PAPYRUS
50 x 70 cm
PAINTING ON PAPYRUS
50 x 70 cm
PAINTING ON PAPYRUS
50 x 70 cm
PAINTING ON PAPYRUS
50 x 70 cm
Egyptian artist – فنان مصري
The Paintings
Alaa Awad has been painting since childhood. „My dad encouraged me to go in that direction,“ he recalls. He draws his inspiration from the life of his country, from his traditions, from the heritage of pharaonic civilization. He blends subtly with the social conditions of his country.
He is the only one who derives this style from his cultural heritage. „It is important to me to convey and express a modern message in ancient Egypt, all of which are part of my values of respect.“
Proud of his culture, he immersed himself in this martial art by watching traditional festivals in southern Egypt. Especially the Sufi festival, which takes place in several cities before Ramadan. To explain this lost legacy, Alaa Awad uses extravagant colors, witnessing the effervescence of these celebration moments.
The artist can paint three to four screens at the same time. „I start, stop, go to another canvas, come back, it all depends on the feeling, it can take up to six months, charcoal, watercolor, natural pigments are part of his colorful palette, but he also works pure ink.
Exhibition of artist Alaa Awad - The West Bank in Cairo / Egypten 2018
10 cm x 15 cm - watercolor on paper
Egyptian artist – فنان مصري
The DRAWING
He became famous for his special murals on Mohamed Mahmoud Street in Cairo of 2012.
His paintings , drawings, mosaic and his murals capture the history and traditions of Egypt, which he translated into a colorful neo-pharonic style. Many of this same images can be seen in Awad’s artwork today as he is inspired from the famous works of art from Ancient Egypt that may be seen in temples and museums.
He take familiar images that surrounded Egyptians and placed them in a different, contemporary context.
“I am proud about it,” he says. “When I was young, I saw pictures of Tutankhamun, Nefertari and Nefertiti. They were like treasures for me. Ancient Egypt was a big civilisation. I must make people remember this culture, this history – because we can lose it. And we can’t know our future if we forget our past.”
the victor mural
Under supervision of general Manger
of department painting: prof / Mohamed Oraby.
Team work student:
Faculty members:
– Assistat Lecturer / Alaa Awad
– instructor / Saleh senosy
– Lecturer / Manal Mubark
– Assistant Lecturer /Mahmoud Soliman
– Assistant Lecturer /Samir Sharawy
– instractors /Yasmin Elkady
