Our Uncle Salah Jahin: Exhibition celebrating Egyptian poet, culture icon in Cairo, Rome - Visual Art - Arts & Culture

Al-Ahram Weekly

19-02-2025

Egypt celebrates the distinguished poet and cultural icon Salah Jahin by holding a caricature exhibition called Our Uncle Salah Jahin, which will then move to Rome.
The exhibition, which will run from 19 to 20 February, will be held at Adam Henein Hall in the Hanager Arts Centre.
Under the title In Love with the Philosopher of the Simple...Our Uncle Salah Jahin, the Egyptian Academy of Arts in Rome will host the exhibition starting 21 February in its main hall.
Both exhibitions are part of the initiative the Ministry of Culture launched to honour Salah Jahin (also spelt Jaheen) and celebrate him as a poet and artist and a national icon who creatively portrayed Egypt during a challenging era.
Adam Henein Hall showcases a collection of rare and original drawings by Salah Jahin, alongside caricature portraits of him created by a group of cartoonists from Egypt and several other countries.
The exhibition features 32 original drawings by the late artist, displayed for the first time as part of Egypt's artistic heritage.
It includes nearly 60 caricature portraits by 52 artists worldwide, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Portugal, India, Uruguay, Spain, Indonesia, China, Poland, Kosovo, Cuba, North Macedonia, Brazil, Peru, Russia, Sweden, Myanmar, and Egypt.
Exhibition highlights
Among the exhibition's highlights is a caricature of Jahin by Syrian artist Saad Hago. Hago created a portrait using a typographic approach integrating one of Jahin's famous poetic lines.
Another notable work is by Egyptian artist Ahmed Abdel-Naeem, who used vibrant colours to reflect the artistic diversity of Jahin's works, including his philosophical yet simple quatrains and his contributions to songwriting, playwriting, and caricature art.
Bahraini artist Ali Al-Samekh presents an innovative portrayal of Jahin, capturing the depth of his artistic and cultural journey through expressive eyes.
Another remarkable piece is a painting by artist Hosni Abbas. It depicts Jahin holding an oversized paintbrush, which some see as the artistic tool he leaned on throughout his life; others interpret it as a symbol of his triumphant success.
In addition to the vibrant, colourful pieces, the exhibition includes black-and-white portraits and single-tone artworks. This diversity in artistic techniques and styles from international artists enriches the exhibition and adds intellectual and creative depth.
Uncle Jahin in Rome!
The Egyptian Academy of Arts in Rome will feature a rare collection of caricature drawings by Salah Jahin, emphasizing his contribution to Egypt's artistic heritage. The exhibition will also include works showcasing his famous quatrains translated into Arabic, Italian, English, and French, highlighting his intellectual impact on Italian audiences.
Fawzi Morsi, the secretary-general of the Egyptian Caricature Society and coordinator of two exhibitions, told Ahram Online that several caricature artists from Egypt and beyond will participate in the Rome exhibition, recognizing Jahin as a significant artistic figure in the field of caricature at all levels.
The Rome exhibition marks an exceptional cooperation between the Egyptian Academy and the Egyptian Caricature Society, chaired by artist Mostafa El-Sheikh.
Salah Jahin, the icon
Salah Jahin (1930-1986) was an Egyptian poet and artist who began his career in caricature at Rose El-Youssef magazine before working at various other press institutions, including Al-Ahram and Sabah El-Kheir magazine.
He was known for addressing topics that touched Egyptians, capturing their concerns with a satirical approach that brought smiles while expressing their struggles.
His unique artistic style allowed him to create full narratives within a single caricature, making him an iconic figure in Egyptian and Arab culture. Jahin's words and songs resonated throughout the Arab world, and his colourful, cheerful illustrations conveyed profound human values.
The Our Uncle Salah Jahin exhibition is part of a series of events organized by the Ministry of Culture to honour Egypt's creative icons, shedding light on their artistic and cultural contributions and their role in enriching Egyptian identity. This event follows last month's tribute to the legendary filmmaker Shadi Abdel Salam through the event Shadi's Day… Celebrating Egyptian Identity.
19 February: Salah Jahin's celebrations
The day includes many other activities spanning multiple venues in Cairo and Alexandria. These include music performances, poetry recitals, cultural seminars, and art exhibitions at the Cairo, Alexandria, and Damanhour operas.
The General Authority for Cultural Palaces, the National Library and Archives, the Fine Arts Sector, and the National Centre for Translation will curate events in the governorates.
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