GISELA COLÓN

THE CITADEL CAIRO
RECLAIMED STONES: FOUNDATIONS OF CIVILIZATION, PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE

PART OF "IF THE WALLS COULD TALK"
ART D'EGYPT
CAIRO, EGYPT
October - November 2023

 

Curated by Nadine Abdel Gaffar

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At the UNESCO World Heritage Site, The Citadel of Cairo or Citadel of Salah al-Din, a medieval Islamic-era fortification in Cairo, Egypt, dating to the 12th century, Colón presented “Reclaimed Stones: Foundations of Civilization, Past, Present, Future,” 2023, a site-specific intervention consisting of three monolithic Egyptian white granite sculptures. 

 

Forming part of Art d’Egypte’s curated exhibition “If The Walls Could Talk,” the first contemporary art exhibition at this world heritage site, a triptych of ancient blocks of stone mined in Aswan near the Valley of the Kings in upper Egypt, were intended to generate a dialogue with the layered history of the site, elucidating the dynamic geological, geographical, ethnographic, archeological, and anthropological complexities intersecting at this ancient site.

"If The Walls Could Talk"lead visitors on an exploration of the concealed narratives within historic spaces. Through the artworks activation, collective histories transcend the physical boundaries of the surrounding walls, venturing into the ephemeral realms of memory, imagination, and collective consciousness. Each work acted as a portal to history, revealing the untold tales housed by The Citadel, from paintings capturing forgotten places to sculptures manifesting the weight of history. Art D'Egypte invited viewers to embark upon an experience of discovery, to peel back the layers of time and immerse themselves in the rich tapestry of human existence.