By Rowaida Abdelaziz
Who says the arts should be confined to the gallery or stage?
What was supposed to be a normal weekend in downtown Cairo took Egyptians by surprise when they suddenly found themselves enjoying classical music and opera simply while walking down the street.
Mahatat Contemporary Art, an organization dedicated to decentralizing and reclaiming art in public spaces, began its third edition of the Art Transit Tour from March 12-16. Mahatat, which means stations in Arabic, invites a group of talented artists to tour Port Said, Damiette, Mansoura and Cairo and showcase their work in Egypt’s public spaces, including abandoned balconies and streets.
Founded by visual artist Omar Al-Moataz, the tour is conducted in collaboration with Teatro Independent Theatre and seeks to “set a dialogue system between the artist and the audience through presenting shows that tackle major issues facing mankind.”
Their latest ‘Opera on a Balcony’ series is anything but conventional.
Rather than performing in exquisite halls with bright costumes and props, the performers simply stand on abandoned balconies or in the middle of a street, surprising and entertaining passersby who instantly whip out their camera phones to document the unexpected surprise.
Moments like these are what distinguish the Mahatat group from any other theatrical organization, for it is through these joyful moments in the midst of Egypt’s busy streets and lifestyle that art is truly brought to the people, so that citizens of all socioeconomic classes can enjoy.
According to their press release, “pedestrians will be surprised with beautiful music and great performances to whisk them away from their daily chores for a while.” Continuing its efforts to share a passion for art through its unique methodology, ‘Opera in a Balcony’ is an opera performance featured on actual balconies in both residential homes and historic architectural buildings including Eskandar Palace in Al-Mansoura. These beautiful buildings are also brought into the spotlight and celebrated as the culturally steeped architectural icons they are in Egyptian history. “The idea is very important — to break the barrier of theaters and cinemas, which are closed spaces and charge money to bring art to the people,” said independent photographer and puppeteer Ziad Hassan. “To reclaim public spaces for the public, so when you walk around you find all kinds of activities, are exposed to different sorts of art and deal with various people.”
Together with the classical sound of the violin, a percussion beat and the deeply soulful crooning of a soprano, Egyptians are exposed to a beautiful nostalgic moment of a cultural pique wherein the country’s deep roots and legacy lies.
“I bumped into this performance and it lifted up my spirits in the dark times of terrorism we’re suffering through,” said Emad Wahby, former Sayeda Zeinab Education Authority manager.
Mahatat describes its work as a “multi-cultural mobile [and community] art initiative” that aims to make art “more accessible and visible” by break through the idea of art as an exclusive entity only visible in high end venues and bring back the joy of local art to the streets of Egypt.
Here, art is no longer restricted as a high class commodity, but rather a privilege offered for all Egyptians to enjoy and partake in.
Founded in 2011, alongside of the birth of the Egyptian revolution, Mahatat lives and breathes the spirit of change by showcasing art and music for Egyptians, by Egyptians. Similarly, Teatro Independent Theatre, which was founded in 2003, seeks to foster a safe space of interaction and dialogue among the community through its use of “the universal language of performing arts.”
Together, these organizations continue to break the barriers of political dividedness that sometimes overtake Egyptian headlines and unite Egyptians through entertainment, music, culture and heritage instead. By filling the political and social gaps of Egyptian society, art becomes an invitation that reminds the people of Egypt of its cultural treasures that are so accessible; they are literally just a walk down the street.
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