Aya Tarek launches Egypt’s first art collection for an NFT marketplace

Malicious, tenacious, rebellious, versatile … Thus, visual artist Ayatalek was the first in Egypt to be curated for the NFT Marketplace from politically-led street art in his hometown of Alexandria. It has been explained along the winding road until the launch of the art exhibition of. this week.

Non-fungible token, Or NFT is a proof of ownership of digital artwork. Ownership is proved by secure blockchain mechanics. That is, others can view it and circulate the screenshot, but the original artwork is owned only by the purchaser.

Who is Aya Tarek?

Egyptian artists have a background of traditional art that has spent hours completing brushstrokes and mixing, but Tarek’s diversity is rooted in a strong urge to maintain relevance. Appeared early in the career. And in the 13 years since she began to attract national attention, she moved from painting (first canvas, then mural) to digital art, 3D motion graphics, feature films, and now NFTs.

Although she gained national attention for her political street art produced as a bystander of the 2011 popular uprising, Hosni Mubarak As President of Egypt, Tarek’s artistic journey began a few years earlier. Many Alexandrians were familiar with her graffiti until 2008.

She was also introduced in microphoneA 2011 political film depicting the lives of Egyptian artists and intellectuals and the challenges faced under Mubarak.

In the early 2010s, Tarek was fascinated by street art because of its improved visibility. She wanted her work to be seen and appreciated by more people than the gallery could accommodate.

One of the main reasons Tarek was interested in NFTs was her desire to not have much control over the space in which art was allowed to exist.

“When I first heard about NFTs, I didn’t really understand what they were. Like many people today. I wondered,” How can you sell digital art exactly? ” We’ve put together a huge collection of digital art that we didn’t know what to do, “she says.

Tarek explains that NFTs have made digital art a sellable product and put the spotlight on artists who only deal with digital media.

That led to Tarek’s latest exhibition, “Token.” The show was produced by B’sarya For Arts in Alexandria, organized the venue and facilitated the creation of NFTs.

NFT market only show

Tokens have been opened to the public in a dim art space in the heart of downtown Cairo in Tarek through a partnership with a new NFT marketplace called NFTY Arabia established in the UAE. Curated by Marwa Benhalim and running until December 22nd. It consists of a combination of physical paintings and digitally rendered works, making it the first item to be sold in NFTY Arabia.

“Most of the exhibitions deal with consumerist and capitalist trends. It affects the need to consume things and how it affects how we recognize and interact with everything. We are centered around the idea, “says Ben Harim.

In one corner of the gallery, a picture, T-bone I’m drawing a delicious steak, and seeing the red paint dripping makes the viewer’s mouth water and stomach uncomfortable. In another piece, a digitally constructed man is constantly captured outside a luxurious villa.

Tarek conveys her intentions with professional precision through a vibrant collection.

“NFTs are a great answer to the art market gap. Many artists today don’t use analog media at all, so all art is created by digital means. In a traditional setting, this kind of work There was no room, “she explains.

Her feelings were repeated by Timmy Mowafi, co-founder of NFTY Arabia.

“I think it’s time for artists in the Mena region to sell their work and give them the space to get the recognition they deserve. If a new technology like NFT did one thing of value, it would be. It was to empower many people who may have been on the sidelines or considered non-conforming in the past, “says Mowafi. The people.

“We sat down and she [Tarek] When I shared her vision with me, I realized that Egypt doesn’t have an NFT to showcase modern street culture. This is really special.

“I’ve seen NFTs of ancient Egyptian iconography, but few have focused on the more modern subcultures of the country.”

Unlike other NFT marketplaces where anyone can create, upload and sell artwork, NFTY Arabia retains the curator’s rights to the platform. Mowafi says this is because he wanted to implement a set of quality standards for the art sold in his market.

The platform is set to showcase the work of 50 of the region’s top artists in February, when it’s fully launched.

Tokens are open until December 22nd in the Kodak Passage in downtown Cairo.

Updated: December 11, 2021 12:41 PM