The Museum in an Upper Egyptian Village

Upper Egyptian artist Hassan El-Shark has turned his village home into a museum so that the locals too can enjoy Egyptian art

By Farah el-Akkad

Among the villagers of Zawyat Sultan near Minya, Hassan El-Shark is considered something of an omda, an informal mayor and father figure whom residents turn to to end disputes or domestic problems. Among German art aficionados, El-Shark is considered the “20th Century Pharaoh,” the subject of a 1996 documentary about his childhood and life as an artist. And there aren’t many Upper Egyptian omdas who have turned their own homes into an art museum.

For nearly 30 years, this contemporary folk artist has been traveling the world exhibiting his work. Last month he participated in an international art competition in Beijing, China. But Hassan El-Shark is no jet-setter. He is a proud Saeedi who cares more about sharing his Upper Egyptian culture than receiving international acclaim.

In 2010, El-Shark decided to transform his village home into a museum. “I wanted to bring all my works together in one place and also do something for the people of my village,” he recounts. The transformation of El-Shark’s home cost more than LE 1 million and obliged him to sell the land he inherited from his father. “But it was totally worth it and now I have the biggest treasure.”

Compared to other buildings in the area, the Hassan El-Shark Museum, which is located in Zawyat Sultan, on the east side of the river close to the Beni Hassan tombs and 15-20 minutes away from the city of Minya, stands out both in its size and design. Passersby often do a double take as they pass the intriguing architecture and garden with its mashrabeya and stained glass gazebo.

The museum, free and open daily, houses more than 200 pieces of artwork, original antiques and memorabilia from the royal family of Muhammed Ali.
At the local level, El-Shark feels that the museum has made the people of his village more aware of art and its beauty. He says it encourages them to see his works and “get in touch with their artistic side as individuals who have grown and lived around nature and historical spots.”

On another level, he notes, the museum has become the number one spot for many tourists, foreign journalists and researchers, “but sadly not so many Egyptians.”
His latest project, which began in September 2014 with the academic year, may change that. Each month, 30 students — the best 10 in the primary, preparatory and secondary school art classes — are invited for weekly workshops at El-Shark’s museum.

El-Shark says that as an artist he is never satisfied with what he has accomplished and is always ready for a new journey to discover a yet unknown side of his “artistic self.” Ironically, his journeys thus far have introduced the rural Egyptian culture across the world, but his art seems to have little reach at home. The artist notes he has been honored with awards from other countries in the Arab world and beyond, but has not been recognized with any Egyptian awards.

“I feel I still have so much to give as an artist. I love this country so much — everything about it, the spirit of the people, the old forgotten traditions, which I always try to bring back to life through my paintings, the way children play and paint on the walls of the houses, the Nile, the mountains and my identity, my clothes like the galabeya, my accent, but I do not think Egypt — if you know what I mean, meaning government officials — appreciates art or what I have done to show how much I love this country.”

About the Museum

The Hassan El-Shark Museum is in Zawyat Sultan, on the east side of the river close to the Beni Hassan tombs and 15-20 minutes away from the city of Minya. The museum, free and open daily, houses more than 200 pieces of artwork, original antiques and memorabilia from the royal family of Muhammed Ali.

El-Shark’s art portrays the life, culture and history of Upper Egypt, including daily activities, Saeedi weddings, zaar and henna parties, Pharaonic life and more. One series illustrates the famous folktales El-Sira El-Hilaliya. The artist has also incorporated poems of renowned poets Salah Jahine and Mohamed El-Boghdady in his paintings.

Visit El-Shark's website here