"Sleeping Beauties" Exhibition: Hesham Nawar Reimagines the Female Body Through Ancient and Literary Lenses
Cairo, Egypt – In a compelling fusion of ancient Egyptian iconography and global literary inspiration, contemporary Egyptian artist Hesham Nawar unveils his latest exhibition, “Sleeping Beauties.” Featuring more than 50 evocative paintings, the show reconstructs the female form through layered symbolism and time-honored sculptural references. Held in Cairo, the exhibition pays tribute to both Japanese Nobel Laureate Yasunari Kawabata and Egyptian sculptural pioneer Mahmoud Mokhtar, blending East and West in a deeply reflective visual narrative.
TRANSLATED ARTICLES
Mohamed El-Kafrawy, journalist at Asharq Al-Awsat.
11/29/20242 min read
Tribute Painting by Hesham Nawar Honoring Abdul Hadi Al‑Washahi
With over two decades of experience in the visual arts, Hesham Nawar draws on historical, literary, and artistic traditions to reinterpret the human body—especially the female body—as a universal symbol of beauty, vulnerability, and contemplation. At the heart of Sleeping Beauties lies a recurring pose inspired by the ancient Egyptian block statue—a form known for its minimalism and spiritual presence.
“The female body is not just a subject—it’s a landscape of meaning,” says Nawar. “In this exhibition, I’m not portraying individuals but timeless figures, preserved in a moment between sleep and consciousness.”
The central motif of the exhibition—the seated, sleeping female figure—derives directly from the block statues of Egypt’s Middle and New Kingdoms. These statues typically show a figure with arms folded on the knees, shrouded in a cloak that blurs the body’s contours. Created as commemorative forms for the deceased, these sculptures were inscribed with prayers and texts meant to endure eternity.
Nawar modernizes this ancient visual language by transforming the traditionally masculine pose into a female form, invoking stillness, silence, and sanctity. The result is a meditative visual experience that invites viewers to pause and reflect on the fragility and permanence of the human condition.
Hisham Nawar during the Sleeping Beauties exhibition, November 2024.
Reconstructing the Human Form: A Timeless Exploration
Ancient Egyptian Symbolism Meets Modern Aesthetic
Literary and Artistic Dedications: Kawabata and Mukhtar
“Sleeping Beauties” is dedicated to Yasunari Kawabata, the acclaimed Japanese author of The House of the Sleeping Beauties (1961). In this enigmatic novella, an elderly man is permitted to sleep beside a beautiful, drugged young woman—with the strict condition of no contact. The narrative's themes of ephemeral beauty, longing, and isolation resonate powerfully with Nawar’s visual meditation on form and stillness.
The exhibition also pays homage to Mahmoud Mokhtar, Egypt’s most celebrated modern sculptor, best known for reviving traditional sculptural forms and adapting them to modern Egyptian identity. Nawar acknowledges Mokhtar’s influence in developing his own language of mass, texture, and volumetric symbolism.
Beyond Artistic Schools: A Personalized Visual Philosophy
Despite clear academic grounding and artistic lineage, Hesham Nawar resists being categorized into a single art school or movement. He emphasizes process over classification, stating:
“Each painting is a unique encounter with the body. I’m not trying to follow a school; I’m solving a visual problem differently each time.”
This commitment to visual problem-solving, along with Nawar’s deep respect for ancient techniques and cultural symbols, underscores his authoritativeness and trustworthiness in Egypt’s contemporary art scene.
