Art Exhibition: Women of Egypt

Redemption (Giacomo Crescenzi): Mr. Maroun gave me a hair touchup at his shop Les Elites in Mohandeseen this morning. I learned that the U.S. embassy had called upon him to style Hillary Clinton's hair, when she was in Cairo and stayed at the Four Seasons Nile Plaza Hotel. Obviously, he's one of Cairo's best hair dressers. I was the first and only person at the shop at 11:00 AM. He said his business in this shop, near the downtown area, has been suffering due to the Tahrir protests. On the way back I stopped at Mesaha Art and Culture Center in Doqqi to see an art exhibition: Women of Egypt, sponsored by UN Women, CARE International, and the UN Information Centre (UNIC).

Egyptian Woman Carrying a Water Jug (Dina Hafez): Ten young, Egyptian artists explore the role of women in Egypt, their struggles, and their hopes for the future. I was saddened, made thoughtful, awed, and inspired viewing these artists' perspectives on women's condition in Egypt. Returning to Garden City, the taxi driver suggested I get off at the Qasr al-Nil bridge entrance to the Corniche, given the density and stupor of the traffic on the street. A crowd was gathered on the overpass facing Simon Bolivar Square watching for clashes between the demonstrators and police. Clashes have continued for the ninth day with fresh fights breaking out today, Wednesday, near Tahrir Square, as riot police fire tear gas and charge at Egyptian protesters angry about a move by President Muhammad Morsi to extend his powers. Dozens of police officers–backed by trucks firing tear gas–have advanced across Simon Bolivar Square, arresting many young people, some of whom have been beaten by officers. Protesters continue to throw stones at police. The latest clashes come after huge numbers of protesters swarmed into the square Tuesday night into this morning, hoping to revive a democratic uprising that swept the country's former despot from power nearly two years ago. Yesterday's turnout was larger and considered a huge success for the opposition in terms of the amount of people they were able to rally. Today, protesters are die-hards, who say that they will stay in the square until the president retracts his constitutional declaration.

Gossip.

Shattered, Muhammad Labib.

"Mute," Mai Amin.

Satirical sketch by Hany Shams. Islamic law allows a Muslim man to divorce his wife simply by repeating "I divorce you" three times.

Hany Shams depicting marriage as a prison for women.

Sketch by Hany Shams.

In Islamic law daughters inherit half as much as sons. This sketch (Hany Shams) depicts a man denying a woman even that, a common plight in patriarchal societies where men have ultimate control.

Ragda, the only other person at the exhibition while I was there. She's a recently graduated pharmacist, who is glad she has a good job and has ambitions to rise in her profession. She helped interpret the Arabic for me. I told her how impressed I have been with the information and service I've received, when I have felt it necessary to visit a pharmacy.

Exhibition poster.