Mar 07, 2016.
At a time when stereotypes and media hype are increasing the ever widening divide between the Middle East and West, creating growing misconceptions and apprehensions about each other, THE KEY, a strategic East-West art exhibition-installation, is being launched to change perceptions and speak directly to the global unconscious.
THE KEY, the 2016 CARAVAN Exhibition of Art, uses the world’s most ancient symbol of harmony and tolerance, the Egyptian Ankh (a.k.a. the “Key of Life”) as the canvas for a contemporary message of hope for a harmonious, peaceful and tolerant world. Exhibiting the work of 40 premier and emerging Egyptian, Middle Eastern and Western contemporary artists, THE KEY uses a modern 3D fiberglass portrayal (1.15 meter in height) of the Ankh, the ancient Egyptian hieroglyph that read “life”, to focus on engendering harmony and peace among people of different nationalities, cultural heritages and faith backgrounds so that we can all coexist and benefit from our diversity. The contemporary form (fiberglass sculpture) of the ancient Ankh was sculpted by noted Egyptian artist Dr. Reda Abdel Rahman.
As a major peacebuilding artistic initiative, THE KEY focuses on uniting people of different backgrounds by highlighting how peaceful coexistence was once possible (i.e. Ancient Egypt), and despite current misunderstandings, can be once again. Designed to grab the imagination, the exhibition will inspire its viewers to realize how we can all play a part in shaping our world into one where understanding and compassion are valued above all.
Opening in Cairo, Egypt on 15 March at 7 PM at the Nile Art Gallery (and running through 12 April), THE KEY will be subsequently showcased in 2016 in London, England and New York City, USA. A percentage of all artwork sales during the exhibition’s international tour will go toward supporting an Egyptian charity providing hope and a future to underprivileged children. THE KEY’s founding sponsor is SODIC, a major real estate development firm in Egypt.
