The works of the "Grandfather of Caricature" will be seen in the exhibit that spans more than half a century of his work, showcasing everything from his political cartoons to oil paintings.
The acclaimed Egyptian artist will be exhibited at the Sharjah Art Museum from November 11 to December 31 in the latest edition of the Lasting Impression exhibition series, which each year features a prominent guest artist. Eighty of Bahgory's pieces will be featured, from his student years in Cairo in the 1950s to his most recent work.
Although best known as a caricaturist and cartoonist, Bahgory is equally regarded as an accomplished painter, sculptor, novelist and actor. His artwork has been displayed in more than 30 exhibitions around Europe and the Middle East, including the Louvre in Paris.
Born in 1932 in the village of Bahgora, Bahgory’s career as a political cartoonist began in 1953, and he went on to feature in weekly magazines. He studied painting at the Faculty of Fine Arts in Zamalek under the guidance of the Egyptian artist Hussein Bikar. Bahgory is most famous for his political satire, which his admirers followed closely in Al Ahram newspaper.
In 1969, Bahgory moved to Paris, and a year later studied at the Academy of Fine Arts. He described this period of his life as his rebirth – his 35 years of freedom. Influenced by Pablo Picasso, Egyptian modernist Abdel Hadi Al Gazzar, German expressionist Paul Klee and the Egyptian Fayoum portraits, Bahgory has become one of the region’s best-selling artists.
His artwork is considered unique in the way that it pulls together elements of classic and contemporary art and adds a comical twist.
“Our aim is not only to display the artworks, but to give visitors a unique insight into Bahgory’s story and the kind of man that he is,” says Manal Ataya, director general of Sharjah Museums Department. “This retrospective of his work is also a chance for local artists and students to gain exposure to, and be inspired by, a different style of art.”
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