Ireland through Egyptian artists' eyes

Dr Selim was a professor and the former head of the Department of Photography at the Faculty of Fine Arts, Minia University. He holds a PhD in Wall Painting from Minia University and in 2015; Dr Selim received a post-doctoral scholarship from the University of Murcia, Spain.

This expressive artwork depicts a vibrant tourist scene in Egypt. A man and a woman sit in a classic chariot in front of a row of historic ram statues.

The facial features and emotional details reflect the diversity of cultures and their interaction at a single moment in time. The painting displays a blend of the ancient past and the touristic present, reflecting a contemporary character with a traditional spirit.

Arwa Gomaa is an Egyptian architect and interior designer born in Kuwait. Gomaa graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Cairo University in 1995.

This painting captures the Celtic goddess Danu as a radiant, fierce and strong figure standing amidst swirling mist and flowing water, symbolizing her connection to wisdom, fertility, and the life-giving forces of nature.

Her flowing robe blend seamlessly with the landscape, merging sky, river, and earth into one harmonious vision.

The artwork invites the viewer to feel the presence of the Great Mother, embodying both creation and mystery.

A member of the Fine Artists’ Syndicate and the Community Association of Fine Arts, Fathy Ali participated in numerous collective exhibitions, as well as his own solo exhibitions, from 2000 to 2024.

Ali won an award at the Al Moaez Street Festival with many of his artworks now housed at the Egyptian Foreign Ministry and the Modern Art Museum.

Ali's artwork expresses the depth of the historical relationship between Ireland and Egypt. The artist has drawn pharaonic statues and placed them in an Irish river. In the background, green houses and trees appear.

Besheer is an Egyptian artist who studied jewellery design, chemistry, accounting, professional makeup and facial aesthetics. Since childhood, Ghada has enjoyed a great interest in fine art, jewelry and fashion and was exposed to various cultures and museums worldwide.

Besheer's artworks were sold in many countries worldwide such as Egypt, USA, UAE, Italy, Venezuela, Nigeria and London with some of her exhibitions serving to help raise funds for charitable endeavours.

This artwork shows the shared and unique symbols; the St. Brigid's cross, the Key of Life, the Horseshoe, the Eye of Horus, the St. Benedict Medal, Hand of Fatma, and many other Celtic symbols representing eternity and protection from negative energies and evil spirits.

Hanan Abdudllah graduated with a degree in Qualitative Education – Fine Arts, from Zagazig University.

Abdullah's artwork depicts the strength of Egyptian-Irish relations at the political and historical levels. There is consultation and exchange of views between them on regional and international issues of common interest, foremost among which are the Middle East peace process, disarmament issues, and nuclear non-proliferation.

The horse in the painting is a symbol of strength and resilience, and on its back is a child wearing a shirt in the colours of the Irish flag, waving the flags of Egypt and Palestine. The child symbolizes the future and strength

Originally, a consulting engineer specialising in fire alarm systems and safety. Hany graduated from Alexandria University with a degree in engineering, focusing on electrical currents and communications.

Additionally, he is a fine artist who primarily works with oil and acrylic paints who has participated in numerous exhibitions with much of his artwork inspired by the countryside and The Nile.

This artwork shows a castle on top of a mountain in Ireland.

Hassan Dawood is a practitioner of fine art, a professional photographer, and an architect. Additionally he is the president of the Arab Organisation of Photography and has mounted 35 solo as well as collective galleries and exhibitions of his work and those of others.

This artwork depicts the traditional music of the bagpipes, which were played by ancient Egyptian musicians during the pharaonic dynasties and played a significant role in the history of Irish music.

Iman Khattab is a fine art practitioner and art critic, as well as a member of the Egyptian Association for Caricature. Khattab has participated in numerous collective exhibitions both in Egypt and internationally.

Khattab's artwork depicts an Irish harp player, with the artist striving to create a composition that incorporates the Egyptian sun, the goddess of ancient Egypt, and an Egyptian cat standing guard, attentively listening and enjoying the music.

The artist connects all these elements through a palette of colours that evoke nature, including green and blue, while also incorporating red and green, which symbolize the Palestinian flag and its struggle against occupation.

Osama is an internationally acclaimed award-winning Egyptian painter who studied art in Fenoun Gamila and the Salzburg Art Academy in Austria.

'Maybe it is an interesting coincidence that this magical bird named a Northern Lapwing is both the national bird of Ireland and the symbol of the simple people of ancient Egypt; Or maybe it is not a coincidence but merely a reminder of the hidden connections between human thought in different cultures across time and space!'

In the 'Self portrait with Lapwing' Lina had used a black and white photo of herself as a little girl in her childhood neighbourhood in Newcastle Upon Tyne where she would often go on weekend trips with her family to Ireland and Scotland.

Maher graduated from the High Institute of Cinema, specialising in Animation, at the Arts Academy. In addition to being a fine arts artist, he works as a director at the Nile Television Network in Egyptian television. Previously, he served as a photojournalist for various Egyptian and Arab newspapers and magazines. He is also a member of the board of directors at the Egyptian Association of Caricaturists.

This artwork illustrates how the artist is influenced by “The Picture of Dorian Gray”, an acclaimed English literature philosophical fiction and gothic horror novel by Irish writer Oscar Wilde that was first published in 1890.

Mahitab Orabi is a professional investment banker and an artist by passion who began developing her artistic talent in 2013 through active participation in the art community.

One of the distinguishing features of her art is her vibrant colour combinations and the vivid emotions they convey with her works inspired by emotions, movement, beauty, and culture.

The painting is on Dublin's famous Ha'Penny bridge. The bridge connects the city's north and south sides, symbolizing connection and community in the heart of Ireland's capital.

Miriam Hathout graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts and she loves to depict Egyptian culture using vibrant, bold colours, focusing on landscapes and peasants, particularly portraying Egyptian donkeys as humble, intelligent, and hardworking animals.

Her works also address the daily struggles faced by Egyptians living in poverty. Hathout has held 25 solo exhibitions in Cairo.

This artwork is inspired by The Temple Bar in Dublin, which Miriam fell in love with because of its vibrant red colour.

An Egyptian contemporary artist who is passionate about her art and everything related to it. Nouni Dessouki believes in the significance of art and culture in uniting the world and fostering connections among people.

Born into a musical family with a strong artistic background, Dessouki grew up in an environment that nurtured her creativity and this upbringing allowed her to connect deeply with the human soul, capturing the emotions behind every story. There’s a hidden story reflecting life

Dessouki's two artworks links Irish-Egyptian cultures through symbols.

Ismail is an Egyptian artist resident in Cairo who graduated with a degree in architecture in 2004 and has since been dedicated to art. After visiting beautiful Nubia several times, she studied the Nubian women’s characters, habits, history and rituals. Their beauty is constantly reflected in her paintings. Heavily influenced by women’s issues, especially Egyptian women.

In the embrace of dreamy blue trees, Egyptian girls sway in a light-like dance, while the harp plays a melody coming from the shores of Ireland. The painting is a silent tone woven between two civilizations, where art meets nature, and soft forces unite to sing of hope and friendship between Egypt and Ireland.

Born in Cairo and a member of the Syndicate of Fine Artists of Egypt and Khalil attained his diploma in painting at the hundertwasserhaus Institute of Art in 1990.

This artwork reflects the artist teenage years and the beginnings of his artistic development, as he read a novel by the Sudanese writer (Tayeb Salih) about a student who immigrated to Europe, his travels and the cultural differences between two worlds!

He became close to the Irish embassy and knowing Ireland’s efforts in supporting vulnerable peoples, which brought him back to the meeting point between East and West and expresses as an ancient Egyptian bird flying across green Ireland and showing its longing for its beloved with fiery red hair.

Saeed Badawy is a caricature and fine art artist born in 1942 who worked with numerous newspapers and magazines, including Al Ahram, Caricature Magazine, Literature News, TV and Radio Magazine, and El Khamees. He received many awards over his long and continuing career, the most notable award being the Silver Dragon Award in China.

Badawy is over eighty years old and still holds his brush and pen to dream and draw.

The artist creates a state of joy in his painting, presenting a celebration in which the Irish and Egyptian flags appear in a state of embrace and circling important and fateful issues, and musicians appear in front of the pyramids; motifs specific to ancient Egypt. The bird means peace, and the Nile River means the extension of civilization, giving, and love.

Yasser Gaessa is a visual artist who is distinguished by his artistic style, which combines abstraction and expressionism, with a strong emphasis on colour and texture. His works are characterised by freedom of expression and depth of feeling, conveying abstract feelings and ideas through his spontaneous brushstrokes.

Yasser Gaessa is an artist who seeks to explore the depths of the human psyche and present them in a powerful visual language.

This artwork reflects the artist’s inspiration drawn from the watercolour hues and their interplay with daylight as it illuminates the green landscapes of the Irish countryside.