Art Gallery
Sleeping Beauties Exhibition by Hesham Nawar – A Tribute to Yasunari Kawabata
Step into a surreal and poetic universe with “Sleeping Beauties”, a captivating art exhibition by acclaimed Egyptian artist Hesham Nawar. This thought-provoking exhibition invites viewers to explore the delicate boundaries between dreams, desire, memory, and silence—elements that define the emotional landscape of the works on display.
The exhibition is composed of three interconnected art collections: “The Kiss,” “The Dream,” and the titular collection, “Sleeping Beauties.” Together, they form a visual narrative inspired by the literary legacy of Yasunari Kawabata, the Nobel Prize-winning Japanese author. Nawar dedicates this body of work to Kawabata’s subtle, melancholic sensibility, especially drawing on the atmosphere of his famous novella "The House of the Sleeping Beauties".
Through a blend of mixed media, symbolism, and sculptural forms, Hesham Nawar evokes an ethereal realm where time seems suspended. Each piece invites reflection on solitude, beauty, and the haunting tranquillity of slumber. The "Sleeping Beauties" Exhibition is not only a tribute to a literary master but also a bold artistic meditation on the vulnerability and grace of the unconscious self.
Whether you're an admirer of contemporary Egyptian art, a collector, or a lover of cross-cultural influences in modern art, this exhibition offers an immersive and unforgettable experience.
Sculptures
Hesham Nawar is a renowned Egyptian sculptor celebrated for his innovative and distinctive artistic style. He made history in 1989 by becoming the first Egyptian artist to win the Grand Prize at the First Youth Salon for an installation artwork—a striking sculpture of a figure falling from a significant height. This early achievement solidified his reputation as a pioneering sculptor in Egypt’s contemporary art scene.
Hesham Nawar: Pioneering Egyptian Sculptor Known for Innovative Tube Sculptures
Nawar is known for his experimental use of diverse materials in sculpture, including fired clay, wood, metal, and stone. One of his most iconic works, "The Last Supper", was created during the Aswan International Sculpture Symposium in 2000. That same year, he reimagined the piece using industrial tubes—a material that would become a signature element in his sculptural work. Since 1989, Hesham Nawar has held numerous solo exhibitions showcasing sculptures crafted from tubes, marking him as a leading figure in modern Egyptian sculpture and material innovation.
The Last Supper, Sculpture, Tubes, 2000.
Photography
"One Eye" Project by Hesham Nawar—A Philosophical Art Exhibition at the Cairo Opera House
In 2008, celebrated Egyptian artist Hesham Nawar presented his groundbreaking project "One Eye" as part of a major group exhibition at the Palace of Arts, located within the Cairo Opera House in Cairo, Egypt. This thought-provoking series explores the relationship between perception, individuality, and inner truth through a collection of striking portrait artworks.
The "One Eye" project features a series of portraits depicting individuals with a single, dominant eye—each one capturing a unique emotional and philosophical lens. These evocative images symbolise how people see and interpret life through their "one true eye"—a metaphor for personal perspective, selective awareness, and the subconscious filtering of reality.
Hesham Nawar’s conceptual approach invites viewers to contemplate the idea that human perception is inherently partial, shaped by memory, experience, trauma, and desire. By highlighting the expressive power of a single eye, Nawar creates a dialogue between visual form and existential inquiry, reinforcing his reputation as one of Egypt’s leading contemporary visual artists.
This philosophical art project, exhibited at one of Cairo’s most prestigious cultural institutions, stands as a powerful testament to Nawar’s ongoing exploration of identity, vision, and the metaphysics of seeing.
