Egyptian artist pays homage to Egyptian cinema’s golden age

CAIRO – 24 January 2018: Mahmoud Shaltout, known as “Mac Toot”, is an Egyptian artist whose work fascinated people on social media networks. His latest project especially received a lot of attention. Shaltout used his graphic designing and artistic skills to take the audiences back to a nostalgic setting in the 1960s, featuring old classical Egyptian architecture while also remembering his most favorite movies that were shot in these buildings during the “golden age of cinema”.

Inspired by old classical Egyptian films, Shaltout merged a photo of himself with prominent Egyptian actors in specific movie scenes in the same locations where the film was shot.

“My appreciation for the value of historical and architectural buildings of our city is the motive behind this project,” Shaltout told Egypt Today in an interview on Tuesday. Shaltout added that we often walk by a place not realizing that this was used in a larger piece of art.

He further describes himself as a massive “Aficiando” (movie poster fanatic) and collector of old Egyptian films. He also emphasized that this project pays homage to Egyptian cinema.

On his social media pages and blogs, Shaltout posted three different pictures under the same concept – joining late prominent Egyptian stars in his favorite scene.

In the latest photo, he poses with Ahmad Mazhar and Adel Emam, re-enacting a scene from the film “Losoos Laken Zorafaa” (Thieves but Pleasant). Both photos are taken in the same location, in front of Cinema Normandy, el-Ahram street, Heliopolis.

In the second photo, he cropped his pictured to merge it with another scene from the film “Motarda Gharameya” (Love Chase) taken in front of el-Thawra Street. The picture portrays him with legendary comedian Fouad El-Mohandes in one of the funniest scenes in Egyptian cinema, when Mohandes attempts to climb a palm tree to escape from very angry ladies.


Mahmoud Shaltout founder of “Mac Toot: blog and Facebook page with Egyptian actor Adel Fouad El Mohandes - Photo courtesy of “Mac Toot” official page on Facebook.


In the third photo, Shaltout portrays himself climbing the same steps of the same location with late prominent Egyptian actor Shoukry Sarhan at Sultan Al-Hassan Mosque.


Mahoud Shaltout founder of “Mac Toot: blog and Facebook page with Egyptian actor Shoukry Sarhan - Photo courtesy of “Mac Toot” official page on Facebook.

The artist also said that he chose these specific locations because he loves the architecture of the buildings.

Shaltour pointed out that it is often difficult to combine two pictures in one because the pictures are taken at a different time and the landscape has changed significantly over the years.

Shaltoot believes that there is an obvious deterioration in the aesthetics of the places captured in his pictures. Whereas the beauty of certain places disappeared, the cinema industry is flourishing and produces great pieces of art.

Shaltout describes himself as “old fashioned”, explaining that he prefers drawing by hand instead of using advanced editing technology.



Painting by Mahmoud Shaltout for the late prominent actress Shadia - Photo courtesy of “Mac Toot” official page on Facebook.

Shaltout also points out that he aims to convey Egypt’s hidden and fading beauty through his art and focuses mainly on architecture or literature.

He concluded the interview by saying, “We have a great culture that we should be proud of.”