Opening of the Exhibition “On Paper 2” by Ali Hassaan at the Mahmoud Mokhtar Cultural Center – Tonight
Written by: Naglaa Fawzi | Thursday, May 8, 2025 – 2:13 PM

Dr. Walid Qannoush, Head of the Fine Arts Sector, will inaugurate the exhibition by artist Ali Hassaan, titled “On Paper 2”, this evening, Thursday, May 8, 2025, at 7:00 PM. The exhibition will be held in the Nahdet Misr (Renaissance of Egypt) Hall at the Mahmoud Mokhtar Cultural Center and will continue until May 18, 2025.

Artistic Philosophy
Speaking about his exhibition, artist Ali Hassaan says:
“The artworks present many contemporary ideas and challenges facing individuals in their environment. At the same time, they extend beyond the local context to reflect global human concerns. The pieces pose various questions to the viewer, inviting them to explore potential answers through the composition, symbolic elements, diffused lighting without a clear source, saturated colors, and the diverse techniques used in the paintings.”
He adds:
“These questions come together to form a direct inquiry in some parts of the work and a more subtle, indirect inquiry in others.”
He continues:
“The elements featured within the frame are familiar ones—scenes and objects from everyday surroundings—but they are reinterpreted in unfamiliar ways. This creates a sense of wonder, mingled with visual curiosity, compelling the viewer to linger and return to the work repeatedly.”
Who is Ali Hassaan?
Ali Hassaan, born in 1975, graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts in Cairo with a degree in Painting in 1997. He later earned a Master of Fine Arts and a Ph.D. in the Philosophy of Painting from the same institution. He is currently an Assistant Professor in the Painting Department at the Faculty of Fine Arts.
For many years, he has lived in the city of Luxor, which has deeply influenced the themes and subjects of his work. Hassaan began documenting and exploring the visual vocabulary of southern Egypt—its people and places—in a contemporary manner. His engagement goes beyond surface observation, delving into the depth and essence of what he encounters, which is strongly reflected in the artworks he produces.
Exhibitions and Collections
Hassaan has held several solo exhibitions in Egypt and participated in many group exhibitions across Egypt, the Arab world, and Europe. His works are part of collections at the Museum of Modern Art in Cairo, the Nile Museum in Aswan, the Fine Arts Sector in Egypt, and the British Embassy in Cairo. His pieces are also held by various governmental and non-governmental institutions, banks in Egypt, and private collectors and cultural centers both locally and internationally.
Translation from: البـوابة نيـوز

From the Print Edition, No. 7633
“On Paper – 2”: Bold Drawings in the Exhibition by Ali Hassan
Thursday, 08 May 2025, 02:08 | By Aya Kamal

At a time when visual arts are rapidly evolving toward technology and material experimentation, artist Ali Hassan has chosen a different path — a return to the origins, to the point where it all began: paper. His new solo exhibition “On Paper – 2” is more than just a continuation of the first edition from 2022. It’s a clear statement that drawing with dry media is not merely a space for experimentation, but a complete artistic project with its own philosophy and identity — one that deserves its own platform.

In this second edition, Hassan presents 14 artworks, most of them new, dated 2025, and never shown before. These pieces are not preparatory studies or preliminary sketches, but independent works — fully conceived, emotionally resonant, and technically refined.

For many years, Ali Hassan worked in the traditional format of “oil on canvas” — the classic medium of painting. But “On Paper” represents a deliberate artistic break: a rebellion against routine and the restriction to a single material. This shift stems from a genuine desire — to rekindle his passion, stimulate creativity, and simplify the often labor-intensive process of working with oil paints.

As Hassan explains: “Working with dry media allows me to continue without interruption. At the same time, it frees me from the physical and technical strain of other materials like oil paint — and opens up new possibilities in technique and expression.”
Translation from: المصري اليوم