Festival of the Arts

(Cairo, May 9-31 / London, September 2-13)

Over 45 premier Egyptian and Western visual artists were invited to participate in this unique 2013 CARAVAN public art-oriented exhibition with theme “In Peace and with Compassion…The Way Forward”. The public art exhibition resonates with the words of Banksy, the renowned English street-artist; “I’ve learned from experience that a painting isn’t finished when you put down your brush—that’s when it starts. The public reaction is what supplies meaning and value. Art comes alive in the arguments you have about it.”

The visual art emphasis for CARAVAN 2013 followed in the footsteps of an approach to public art that has featured painted animals, yet with an added depth in its symbolism, intention and message. It is with this purpose that the donkey was selected. The donkey symbolizes peace in both Christianity and Islam, and is found in both the Bible and in the Qur’an. Examples are numerous, such as both Jesus and Omar Ibn El Khattab (the 2nd Caliph) each riding donkeys when they entered Jerusalem. This is why the theme is “In Peace…..”. The donkey also represents the poor, as it is an animal of burden, and this is especially the case in Egypt. Hence the full theme of the exhibition is “In Peace and with Compassion.”

Through this art initiative the artists are making a public statement about tolerance between Christians and Muslims, and between East and West, and the importance of living together in “peace and with compassion”…a statement that comes “out of Egypt” for the world.

Each participating artist painted/decorated two fiberglass donkeys (life-size and 1/4 life-size). All 90 painted fiberglass donkeys were exhibited the opening night, May 9, at St. John’s Church-Maadi/Cairo. And 20% of all local art sales went to Egyptian charities assisting the poor. Then the 45 life-size painted fiberglass donkeys were placed throughout Cairo at strategic public locations for two weeks (hotel lobbies, art galleries, cultural centers, universities, schools, community associations, etc.).

Following their two-week public display, 25 of the life-size donkeys were selected for a traveling interfaith public-art exhibition held at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London from September 2-23, a sacred place known globally for its role in the Arts as well as interfaith relations. Following their exhibition at St. Paul’s Cathedral, the donkeys will be auctioned off by Sotheby’s for charities in Egypt that serve the poorest of the poor regardless of creed.

Viewing the exhibition of life-size painted donkeys