Sobhy Guirguis The Self and The Other



Sobhy Guirguis: The Self and The Other is a retrospective to commemorate the first anniversary of the passing of a remarkable Egyptian artist, Sobhy Guirguis. The show brings together over 60 of his most definitive paintings and sculptures, many previously unseen, spanning 60 years of artistic production. Through their child-like appearance and unusual geometric shapes, the works of Sobhy Guirguis bring forth a compelling and mature legacy of avant-gardism, modernism and humanity. Sobhy Guirguis was probably the most existential Egyptian artist of the twentieth century, beside Abdel Hady el Gazzar, and the most truthful to the child within the adult. The best works of Guirguis take you to the limit of your capacity to be moved by art.


SOBHY GUIRGUIS departed this world on January 21st, 2013 at the age of 83, leaving behind an unparalleled legacy of avant-gardism, modernity and humanity. His body of work rouses a certain awe by virtue of his selflessness, naivety and indefatigable commitment to artistic creation. Sobhy Guirguis was probably the most existential Egyptian artist of the twentieth century, beside Abdel Hady el Gazzar, and the most truthful to the child within the adult. The best works of Guirguis take you to the limit of your capacity to be moved by art. SOBHY GUIRGUIS was born in 1929 in Cairo, Egypt where he lived and worked. He received a BFA, MFA and PhD from the faculty of Fine Arts in Cairo in 1958 and obtained a postgraduate diploma in Florence in 1964. He received the prestigious first prize for sculpture in the Alexandria Biennale for Mediterranean Countries in 1994 and the Grand Prize of the Cairo International Biennale in 1994 amongst many others.


Dr Sobhy Guirguis (1929-2013) was undoubtedly a lonesome Genius and one of Egypt’s top contemporary artists. Instantly recognizable, Guirguis’ works – both sculptures and paintings – consist of abstract geometric shapes based on figurative implications, combining outstanding technical skills and an unbeatable intimate appeal – all in an utterly childish, utopian, naïve manner. Living and building a world of his own, Guirguis succeeded in mixing innocence and freedom in a semi-minimalist way – whereby the child inside the man overwhelms his character and consequently his works.


SOBHY GUIRGUIS departed this world on January 21st, 2013 at the age of 83, leaving behind an unparalleled legacy of avant-gardism, modernity and humanity. His body of work rouses a certain awe by virtue of his selflessness, naivety and indefatigable commitment to artistic creation. Sobhy Guirguis was probably the most existential Egyptian artist of the twentieth century, beside Abdel Hady el Gazzar, and the most truthful to the child within the adult. The best works of Guirguis take you to the limit of your capacity to be moved by art. SOBHY GUIRGUIS was born in 1929 in Cairo, Egypt where he lived and worked. He received a BFA, MFA and PhD from the faculty of Fine Arts in Cairo in 1958 and obtained a postgraduate diploma in Florence in 1964. He received the prestigious first prize for sculpture in the Alexandria Biennale for Mediterranean Countries in 1994 and the Grand Prize of the Cairo International Biennale in 1994 amongst many others.