Adel Hadi Al Gazzar (or Al Gazzar)(1925-1966) is 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. [edit] Life and career Abdel Hadi Mohammad Abdallah Al Gazzar was born on March 14, 1925 in the Akkabri district in Alexandria; 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. [edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Writings Folk Poems. Many Articles for "the Islamic Post Magazine". Two stories: "Barber's Shop" "Soul's Departure" [edit] 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.
[edit] References [edit] Bibliography - Sobhy Al Sharouny :"Abdel Hadi AlGazzar: The Strangers", Copyright Dr. Sobhy Al Sharouny. 1961.
- Sobhy Al Sharouny: "Abdel Hadi Al Gazzar the Artist of the Legend and Space World", National Publication House. 1966.
- Badr El Din Abu Ghazi: "Generations of Pioneers", Publications of Fine Arts Fans Society. 1975.
- Ezz El Din Naguib: "Modern Egyptian Art Dawn", Beirut, Arab Future House. 1982.
- Samia Mehrez: "Abdel Hadi al-Gazzar: an Egyptian Painter", translation from Arabic to English of the poetry by and about the Egyptian painter Al Gazzar in a collective, trilingual volume on his life and work. Dar al Mustaqbal al Arabi. 1990. pp. 28-45.
- Alain and Chritine Rosion: " Egyptian Painter Abdel Hadi Al Gazzar", Arab Future Publication House. 1990.
- Samir Gharib: "Surrealism in Egypt", General Egyptian Book Authority. 1996.
- Sherifa Zuhur: "Colors of Enchantment: Theater, Dance , Music, and the Visual Arts of the Middle East", AUC Press. 1998.(Modern Painting in the Mashriq, Hussein, 1989, p. 37).
- Sabri Mansour: "Plastic Studies: Series of Plastic and Prospects", General Authority of Cultural Palaces. 2000.
- Liliane Karnouk: "Modern Egyptian Art 1910-2003",AUC Press, 2003.
- Venetia Porter: "Arab artists' appropriation of modernity", British Museum Press. 2006.
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