| To: Retort From: AB/OC [Adam and Ollie extend an invitation to the 6th exhibition of the Cairene surrealist 'Art and Freedom' group, which will open on the closing night and coincide with the publication of the long-awaited third issue of 'La Part du Sable'. IB] You are invited to a special exhumation of the Egyptian Surrealists at the Townhouse Gallery in Cairo. Over the course of their short and sweet life, the ‘Art and Freedom’ group, as they were known, prepared just five exhibitions and published two editions of a maga- zine, ‘La Part du Sable.’ It is difficult to say what led to their premature end. What we do know is that they spent much of this short period eloquently describing their own demise: LIKE A KNIFE WITHOUT A BLADE THAT HAS LOST ITS HANDLE With their stand against order, beauty and logic, the ‘Art and Freedom’ group shook up a community steeped in academicism and the picturesque with their particular version of modernism. Herein was a remarkable moment when Surrealism in an odd alliance with Marxism met the Orient. “Female workers of all lands, be beautiful,” they proclaimed… The 6th ‘Art and Freedom show’ will take place after a 60-year hiatus. The exhibi- tion will coincide with the publication of the never-realised third issue of ‘La Part du Sable’ — originally planned around the theme of violence. All of these events will take place without the consultation of any founding mem- bers—all of whom are deceased. Anyone with information about the dreams and works of the original protagonists—Georges Henein, Ramses Yunan, Fouad Kamel, and Kamel el Telmessany— your contributions are welcome. True to their spirit, the exhibition will run backwards, opening on the closing night: May 12th, 2010. Adam Broomberg and Oliver Chanarin |
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