Norwegian-Egyptian artist pulls curtain down on extended career with Hawanem fair

Women have demonstrated their success and impact in a variety of fields over the years.

Art has, however, been a distinct field of women’s success, having allowed them to demonstrate their beauty and femininity in their work.

March 8 is designated as International Women’s Day, an occasion for honouring women’s role and contributions.

This day will be special in Egypt this year, particularly with Egyptian-Norwegian contemporary artist, Britt Boutros Ghali, planning to launch her biggest retrospective exhibition ‘Women of My World’, on March 10 in downtown Cairo.

Ghali also gives the exhibition the title ‘Hawanem (Arabic for noble women)’.

She said she would bring 70 of her paintings to the exhibition.

“All these works will be about women,” Ghali told The Egyptian Gazette.

A Norwegian abstract expressionist painter, Ghali has lived in Egypt for over 40 years.

Her style is defined by a vibrant colour palette throughout her career.

Her work has been exhibited in several countries, including France, the UK, Germany, Spain, the US, and Norway.

It was a love story that caused Ghali to end up living in Egypt all these years.

She decided to stay in the Arab country when she met what she describes as the ‘love of her life’, Raouf Boutros-Ghali.

She got married to the man who turned into her staunchest supporter.

Ghali’s career moved between abstract art and expressionist paintings of women.

“Firstly I depended on the abstract painting only. Then, I started to paint the features,” Ghali said.

She advises young artists to give freedom to their intellectual faculties and not inhibit them.

They should, she said, let the flow come in.

“Their paintings should have the energy that the viewer needs to feel,” she added.

She found a way to reach her hands out to younger artists and she does this in a special way.

Every time she sells a painting, Ghali buys another one from young artists.

This support and solidarity, she said, can only be found in a country like Egypt.

“I have learned this solidarity from Egyptian artists,” Ghali said. “Everyone is ready to offer support to and encourage others.”

She said Egyptians supported her when she arrived in Egypt, for the first time.

However, the fact that people extended their hands with help for a woman they did not know was surprising to her.

The women Ghali captures in her paintings are full of self-confidence, colour, and power.

“Women in ancient Egypt were icons of strength,” Ghali said.

Although life is difficult, she added, there is always hope.

“Egyptian women have inspired me since the day I arrived in Cairo in the 1970s,” Ghali said. “I was astounded by the intrinsic role they play in the progress and the prosperity of the Egyptian society.”