Egypt TV Drama Reflects Artistic Decline
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June 26, 2016 23 Culture Egypt TV drama reflects artistic decline Hassan Abdel Zaher Cairo amadan is drawing to a close and with it scores of soap operas on Egyp- tian television are wrap- ping up but critics said Rwhat they have seen in those works suggests the programmes have not been worth the money spent on them. “I have seen nothing so far but mediocre serial dramas that do lit- tle to represent Egyptians as a peo- ple,” said Nader Khalifa, a critic and scriptwriter. “The artistic qualities of the works I have seen fill me with certainty that the age of Egyptian drama is over.” Critics said what they have seen on TV suggests the programmes have not been worth the money spent on them. More than 30 serials are being shown in Egypt during Ramadan, a traditional time for airing new pro- grammes. Soap operas aired this year range from the comic to the poignant. Billboards of Ramadan TV dramas on the 6 October Bridge in downtown Cairo. One of the serials dramatises the life story of Egyptian pop singer Ghada Gabara, the former dean Hollywood of the East and the producers and private production “You can see this in the unend- Mohamed Mounir. Another — star- of the Egyptian Film Institute, said cultural powerhouse of the Arab companies that care only about the ing commercial breaks that inter- ring comedian Adel Emam — tells she closely watched early episodes world. Part of the country’s cultural financial, not the artistic, returns of rupt the action several times during the story of a man who hates spend- of most of this year’s dramas and strength emanated for the quality the works they produce,” Khalifa broadcast,” Gabara said. “Advertis- ing money and, in a humorous way, that she concluded Egyptians are of its soap operas, films and songs. said. “This is very dangerous.” ers pay huge money to have their is a pain to all around him. There is not capable of producing quality Now, works coming from Turkey The government used to have ads viewed by the largest number also a comedy about the adventures any more. and Syria are attracting attention, production companies that pro- of people but I was hoping that they of three friends who go from job to “We are losing our competitive with their stars becoming house- duced quality soap operas. About 15 would pay attention to the quality job, leading to one failure after an- edge, not only inside our country, hold names in Egypt. years ago, those companies stopped of the works as they do the names other. but all through the Arab world,” Khalifa attributes the decline in production as part of an economic of the stars who appear in these According to media reports, $281 Gabara said. “There were days when Egyptian TV drama to what he de- liberalisation drive that put more works.” million was spent on the produc- viewers in other Arab countries had scribes as the “withdrawal” of the operations into private hands in tion of these works. Emam was said their eyes glued to the screens for government from TV production. most sectors of the economy. Hassan Abdel Zaher is a to have been paid $4.5 million to ap- hours to watch Egyptian works.” “The government is leaving the Works produced now bring a lot Cairo-based contributor to The pear in Maamoun and His Partners. Egypt was once considered the job of TV drama production to of money to producers, Gabara said. Arab Weekly. Bahrain’s varied contemporary art showcased in London Karen Dabrowska port to enterprises and individuals. Ghassan Muhsin’s brilliantly col- The 17 artists whose work was ex- oured abstract works capture land- London hibited ranged from veterans of the scapes, birds and trees. After living Bahraini art scene to early career and painting in various cities in the aving art transcend the artists who ventured into interna- United States and Asia, the former borders of the small tional events for the first time. They diplomat settled in Bahrain. He said Gulf island state of Bah- specialise in many areas of the vis- his artwork had been influenced by rain was the aim of an ual arts, from painting to sculpture the ancient city of Babylon in Iraq exhibition that show- and photography, and their London and the mysterious country of Dil- Hcased a collection of more than 50 portfolios reflected the influence of mun, often mentioned in historic pieces from Bahraini artists at Lon- Bahraini identity on their work. records as one of the Middle East’s don’s Gallery 8. most ancient civilisations, which The artwork selected under the BAAB London 2016 included Bahrain. umbrella of Bahrain Art Across Bor- showed that Bahrain’s Muhsin said art is more success- ders (BAAB) greeted visitors with art scene is both ful than diplomacy at bridging gaps a magnificent explosion of colour, between cultures. “Diplomacy is showing a well-developed art that unique and promising. the kind of tool which may be sin- features figurative, abstract, real- ister some of the time and good at istic, decorative, spiritual and reli- Kaneka Subberwal, founder of other times. But I believe art always gious creations, exhibition curator Art Select, said in a release: “The meant to reflect bridges between dif- Janet Rady said. opportunities and exposure that ferent people and different cultures “The theme of the BAAB London the BAAB initiative offers is instru- and can bridge the gap between na- 2016 exhibition was Bahraini identi- mental in stimulating the local arts tions,” he said. ty in all its forms. Many of the artists scene and turning the spotlight on Tabia Faraj’s work with calligra- reflect on their childhood and there to the multitude of talent we have phy showed that it is an evolving is a lot of blue in their work because in the kingdom of Bahrain. and developing art form. She said Bahrain is an island surrounded by “Bahrain is one of the richest in she immersed herself in calligraphy the sea,” Rady said. the region in terms of history, cul- at the age of 12 and is familiar with ture and heritage and this is mani- seven styles of Arabic and Persian The exhibition fested through creative minds who script. showcased a collection have done a tremendous job in pro- She has moved from traditional of more than 50 pieces filing their country with the highest calligraphy, in which she used bam- respect and admiration.” boo pens and Indian ink on paper, from Bahraini artists The most unusual art works, in to working on canvas with brushes at London’s Gallery 8. black wooden sculptured frames, and sponges. Using liquid paint, she were Ghada Khunji’s photo mon- has striven to create backgrounds BAAB is a new arts venture de- tages on canvas with wood, lace on canvas that evoke the effect of signed to expose Bahrain’s rich and incense. Born in Bahrain in marbled paper. Her ambition is to creative talents to an international 1967, Khunji attended a pre-school develop a new script. audience and promote cross-cultur- associated with the Sacred Heart Untitled oil on canvas painting by Ebrahim Busaad. BAAB London 2016 showed that al dialogue, broaden the artists’ ho- church, an experience that explains Bahrain’s art scene is both unique rizons and introduce art collectors the iconography in most of her images in her work, to “revisit fam- bicycle and mixed media images of and promising. “We are influenced and enthusiasts across the world to work. ily moments that I was not around Muharraq — from its buildings to its by so many different communities the vision of Bahraini artists. She said she traces her fascina- for”, she explained. road signs. in Bahrain,” Khunji points out. “The The project is steered by Art Se- tion with photography to the mo- In her mixed media, sculptural “This art piece strives to capture art scene is getting better and bet- lect, an international art investing ment she found an old suitcase that artworks, Noor Ahmed Alrafaei the identity of Muharraq as a place t e r.” consultancy firm, in partnership belonged to her mother stuffed with makes references to old Bahrain, in which many artists have found a with Tamkeen, a Bahraini semi-gov- portraits of many generations of her particularly the historic former cap- home. With technology everything Karen Dabrowska is a ernment organisation that assists family. Besides the surviving prints, ital, Muharraq. One key piece of her changes, so my bicycle would take London-based contributor to the the private sector by providing fi- she discovered stacks of negatives. Bicycle Bench installation is made me through Muharraq — old and Culture and Society section of The nancial, advisory and training sup- She has since used some of those of recycled wood, an old-fashioned modern,” Alrafaei said. Arab Weekly..