Plastic art is one of the arts facing multiple challenges in terms of public reception, especially since it is considered an ‘elite’ art form. Additionally, the challenges posed by artificial intelligence on the reality of design, painting, and imagination are significant. Arab artists believe that considering plastic art as elite is not a negative factor but a positive one. They also argue that artificial intelligence cannot leave a human imprint as is the case with natural paintings.
Iraqi artist Suhair Salman participated in the exhibition with a painting titled ‘The Silence of Dialogue’, which refers to the dialogue between the past and the present that turns into colorful emotions on the canvas, carrying memories and nostalgia for the past. Salman mentioned in her interview with ‘Sputnik’ that this is not her first participation in an exhibition in Cairo, as her paintings belong to the abstract school. She explains that the Egyptian and Iraqi people have a great appreciation for plastic art and other forms of art.
Art critic Hisham Kandil, chairman of the Atelier of Arab Culture and Arts, stated that the Arab participation in the exhibition is ‘very distinguished by all standards’, bringing together a selection of the most important Arab artists. He noted that the renowned Saudi artist Abdul Qadir Shaab Al-Kaabi, a pioneer of the African plastic movement, is the guest of honor at the exhibition.
Kandil added that Al-Kaabi, who belongs to the 1960s generation and the African modernism movement, has had a significant influence on Saudi art, with many prominent artists graduating under his guidance. The exhibition also features a notable participation from Iraq, where artist Suhair Salman showcases her works. She is a young artist in the Iraqi plastic movement, with Iraqi artists generally focusing on the Iraqi environment and ancient architecture, whether Assyrian, Sumerian, or Babylonian, always celebrating Iraqi civilization symbols.
Kandil also pointed out the Kuwaiti participation represented by the works of the great artist Abdul Rasool Salman, president of the Arab Plastic Artists Union, who depicted old features such as fishermen and heritage items. Regarding the Saudi participation, he confirmed it is remarkable, with Saudi artists Abdullah Hamas, Abdullah Idris, Mohammed Al-Ghamdi, Fahad Al-Hujailan, and Samir Al-Dahham participating, considering the Saudi participation the most abundant in this exhibition.
The exhibition also includes artists from Palestine and Syria, mentioning that Palestinian artist Abdullah Areesha and Palestinian artist Amira Mana Sulaim, who presented a highly skilled plastic work, participated. Meanwhile, Abdullah Areesha depicted the sad Palestinian face reflecting the current situation in Gaza.
Plastic artist Mohamed El-Tuhami, an academic at the Faculty of Fine Arts, stated that the challenges of artificial intelligence cannot replace the plastic artist. He added in his interview with ‘Sputnik’ that AI-created paintings do not carry the same human artist’s imprint, especially the artist’s spirit. El-Tuhami participates with a painting symbolizing contrast, using the bell used for calls, showing the wearing of the bell, symbolizing contrast.
Several prominent names are participating, including: Farghali Abdel-Hafiz, Ahmed Nawar, Reza Abdel Rahman, Amal Nasr, Mohamed Orabi, Mohamed Abdel Monem, Adel Tharwat, Sami Abu Al-Azam, Salah Al-Mileegy, Hassan Ghanem, Fares Ahmed Fares, Ayman El-Samry, Hassan Abdel Fattah, Abdel Ghafour Shadid, Abdel Wahab Abdel Mohsen, Wael Darwish, Mervat Al-Shazly, and Mohamed El-Tuhami.
Saudi artists Abdullah Hamas and Abdullah Idris, Kuwaiti Abdul Rasool Suleiman, Jordanian Hakeem Jama’in, and Iraqis Saad Al-Kaabi and Suhair Al-Osman are also participating. The exhibition also includes selections of works by eminent late artists such as Salah Taher, Omar Al-Najdi, Hassan Mohammed Hassan, in addition to sculptures by several artists including Abdel Moneim El-Haywan, Mahmoud Abu El-Majd, Adam Henein, Mustafa Metwally, Sayed Abdo Selim, Salah Hamad, Tarek El-Koumy, Shams El-Qarnfaly, Hisham Nawar, Alaa Yahya, Mohamed Darwish, and Rawaa Al-Dajwi.
