Fathy Afifi
(Egyptian, b. 1950) is inspired by Cairo’s crowded streets and neighborhoods which he brilliantly portrays in the large-scale paintings. He aims to depict the pulse of everyday Cairene life and his paintings capture the movement of the masses. Afifi is himself a product of the culture that he illustrates in this work; he was born in 1950 in the Sayeda Zeinab quarter of Cairo. He is informed by this immensely crowded low-to-mid-income district, Afifi seeks to reflect reality rather than romanticize Cairo, home to more than 17 million people, most of whom are struggling financially. His paintings reflect how Egyptians’ daily routine has become mechanical and impersonal. Blank faces show how masses can share little connection to their routine and those around them.