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COLLABORATION WITH CARAVAN’S 2013 FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS

COLLABORATION WITH CARAVAN’S 2013 FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS

The CARAVAN Festival of the Arts was founded five years ago with the objective of building bridges between East and West. As part of this year’s festival, Over 40 premier Egyptian and foreign visual artists have been invited to participate in a unique public art-oriented exhibition for Cairo. Each participating artist will be given two fiberglass donkeys (a life size one and a smaller ¼ life-size one) to paint as they wish according to the theme “In Peace and with Compassion – The Way Forward”.

The donkey symbolizes peace in both Islam and Christianity. The donkey also represents the poor, as it is an animal of burden. This is especially the case in Egypt. Hence the full theme is “In Peace and with Compassion.” The festival and the artists are making a statement that the way forward in Egypt and in its relationship with the rest of the world is “in peace and with compassion”. 

The 40 life-size painted fiberglass donkeys have been placed throughout Cairo at strategic public locations for three weeks. The Four Seasons at the First Residence Hotel in collaboration with Syra Arts is proud to host 3 of the donkeys at the hotel. 

The donkeys will be for sale, with a portion of the profits going to Egyptian charities assisting the poor under the Spirit of Giving charity program. Also, 20 life-size donkeys will be selected for a traveling exhibition to venues in both Europe and the United States.

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