Basic HTML Version
28
eBiz Africa Review
Summer 2013 /
Été 2013
LIFESTYLE /
STYLE DE VIE
Sherwet Shafei, the renowned
art dealer at the Safarkhan, was
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educated in English and French
schools, and she received her
Bachelor of Arts in English, at
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held several positions within the
Ministry of Information, Egyptian
Radio, and the newspaper Rosa el
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when she was assigned to
produce a weekly program about
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her work in Egyptian television,
she was able to propagate the
importance of the beauty of
Egyptian art which was not very
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meeting and spending days with
the pioneers of modern Egyptian
art like Mahmoud Said, Ragheb
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through weekly artistic activities,
the appreciation of art extended
through several generations and
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Shafei began collecting art in
the early 80s when her budget
permitted her, and as the years
passed, her collection grew to
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And as a result the AUC produced
a book chronicling her life and
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Shafei decided to continue working
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Her relationship to the gallery goes
back to the seventies when she
worked with Roxanne Petrides,
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Shafei’s policy in the Safarkhan
was originally concentrated on
introducing her clients to a history
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the works of the pioneers was
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perseverance in continuing in
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in creating new collectors of
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feedback for her work in her later
years as she continued to search
for new artists who had a real
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During her work in the Safarkhan,
Shafei was also interested in the
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of the most important exhibitions
was that of sculptor and painter
Salah Abdel Karim, in which a book
about Abdel Karim was introduced
alongside his sculptures, paintings,
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important book was introduced in
the Safarkhan; it was that of the
late art critic Aime Azar, which was
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Peinture Moderne en Egypte,” is
one of the best references on the
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art that were founded before the
founding of the School of Egyptian
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Egyptian Ministry of Culture for
translation and is now published
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The work in the Safarkhan gallery
was extended by Shafei on
The Safar Khan Art Gallery is located on Brazil Street
on the Residential Island of Zamalek. The building
was designed by artist Nabil Ghali and was officially
established in 1966 by Roxane Petredis. What began
as an Islamic antique shop has transformed into a very
popular art gallery including exhibitions by modern
Egyptian artists. What sets this gallery apart is that it both
collects as well as sells art. Also, the building truly is an
eye-catcher and is one of Zamalek’s most important
landmarks. It has a stroke of Islamic flair due to its
integrated fountain and the outer woodwork façade.
By Matthew Dobbins
THE SAFAR KHAN
ART GALLERY,
TRUE ¨ KNOW- HOW ¨