Lot 17 – Ahmed Nawar, 21st Century Egypt Bird

LOT 17AHMED NAWAR (EGYPTIAN B.1945)21ST CENTURY EGYPT BIRD
signed and dated in English and Arabic A. Nawar 1997 lower middle
mixed media on board
117 x 92.5cm; 46 1/8 x 36 3/8in
134.1 x 111.7cm; 52 6/8 x 43 7/8in (framed)

Property from a Private Collection, London

Provenance
Dr Mohammed Said Farsi
Acquired from the above by the present owner

Estimate
£2,500 – £3,500
Buyer’s premium: 25.00% + VAT
Droit de suite may apply to this lot

Ahmed Nawar is a definitive figure in the history of contemporary Egyptian art, recognised for a career that balances rigorous technical execution with high-level cultural leadership. His body of work is characterised by an analytical approach to form, a trait developed through his formal training at the Faculty of Fine Arts in Cairo and later at the San Fernando Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Madrid. This academic foundation was uniquely tempered by his service as a sniper during the War of Attrition, an experience that introduced a distinct “optical precision” into his aesthetic, where the themes of surveillance, distance, and the mechanical anatomy of objects predominate.

Throughout his professional life, Nawar has functioned as both a creator and a strategist for the Egyptian arts. His early output focused heavily on graphic arts, where his etchings and drawings displayed a preoccupation with geometric order and the deconstruction of the human and industrial form. Over time, his practice expanded into painting, shifting from monochromatic discipline to a sophisticated use of colour and abstraction. Regardless of the medium, his work consistently examines the tension between organic life and structural rigidity, often reflecting on national identity and the concept of human endurance.

Beyond the studio, Nawar’s influence is cemented by his extensive contributions to Egypt’s cultural infrastructure. As a former Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts at Minia University and the longtime Head of the Fine Arts Sector at the Ministry of Culture, he was instrumental in professionalising the regional art scene. Most notably, his role in founding the Cairo International Biennale in 1984 provided a vital platform for cross-cultural exchange between the Middle East and the global art community. His works are currently held in major international collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Museum of Modern Art in Cairo, marking him as a pivotal architect of Egypt’s modern visual identity.