Exhibitions featured in
Materials
mixed media on paper
signed and dated Siwi 2001 in English, and Siwi in Arabic lower right
97.3 x 67.5cm; 38 1/4 x 26 1/2in
139.7 x 100.7; 55 x 39 4/8in (framed)
Located in
LondonLOT 28 ADEL EL SIWI (EGYPTIAN/ITALIAN B.1952) TAURUS
mixed media on paper signed and dated Siwi 2001 in English, and Siwi in Arabic lower right 97.3 x 67.5cm; 38 1/4 x 26 1/2in 139.7 x 100.7; 55 x 39 4/8in (framed) Property of a Lady, London Provenance Sale, Bonhams, London, 2018 Acquired from the above by the present owner
£3,000 – £5,000
While his medical training informs his understanding of human anatomy, his execution is rarely realistic. Instead, he treats his subjects with a sense of “Oriental Regality,” often elongating features and placing them in a silent, static space. This focus extends to his frequent inclusion of animals, such as cats and birds or, as in this case, buffalo found in rural Egypt; rather than serving as mere symbols or background elements, these creatures are given equal weight and presence to his human figures, creating a shared narrative of quietude and introspection.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Technically, El Siwi’s style is defined by a sophisticated use of a limited, often earthy palette. He avoids excessive ornamentation, preferring to build depth through layers of paint that create a subtle interior radiance. The mood of his work is often described as somber or melancholic, lacking in celebration but rich in psychological weight. This approach allows him to navigate between the whimsical and the profound, using traditional mediums to maintain a dialogue with the past while addressing contemporary displacement and memory.
Adel El Siwi (b. 1952, Behera) is a Cairo-based artist whose work is shaped by a background in medicine and a decade spent living in Europe. Although he trained as a doctor at Cairo University between 1970 and 1976, he simultaneously pursued independent studies at the Faculty of Fine Arts from 1974 to 1975. In 1980, he relocated to Milan, Italy, where he practiced for ten years before returning to Cairo to establish his permanent studio.
El Siwi’s professional record includes numerous solo exhibitions across the Middle East and Europe, including shows in Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Tunisia, Italy, France, England, Bahrain, and Dubai. He has been a frequent participant in major international biennials, representing his work at the Cairo Biennale (1996, 2008), the Sharjah Biennale (1997), and the Venice Biennale (2009).
His participation in group exhibitions includes notable surveys such as Rencontres Africaines (1994) and Oum Kalsoum: La Quatrième Pyramide (2008) at the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris, Modernities and Memories at the 1997 Venice Biennale, and Word into Art in Dubai. Additionally, his work has been featured in urban projection projects organised by Le Laboratoire: Sculpture Urbaine, which displayed his imagery on historical buildings in Rio de Janeiro, Grenoble, and Algiers.
Beyond his studio practice, El Siwi contributes to Arabic art scholarship through his work as a translator. He has translated several foundational art historical texts into Arabic, including writings by Leonardo da Vinci and Paul Klee.
