El Husseiny Aly

Currently a professor in the Faculty of Art Education in Helwan University, Husseiny Aly has combined his artistic practice with teaching from the beginning of his career. Aly earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from the Faculty of Art Education at Helwan University in Cairo in 1971 and 1977, respectively, and a PhD in the Philosophy of Art Education in 1983. Heavily emphasizing Egyptian art history and heritage in his teaching career and art, Aly’s artistic practice is heavily influenced by elements of Egyptian mural art. Composing ink drawings and paintings, his works are densely populated vignettes of Egyptian country landscapes, or else human and animal figures painted in a flat style reminiscent of Ancient Egyptian and Assyrian wall and temple murals. These murals told stories of daily life, and the rituals of man’s relationship to agriculture and the earth.   

 

An incredible amount of detail is present in each work. No doubt the artist is celebrating Egyptian identity, but there is another message in the composition, both political and nationalistic, about Egypt’s people. His drawings and paintings are an ode to them, highlighting a history that extends to thousands of years back.  Aly has participated in many group and solo exhibitions in Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, and he has been recognized by both countries for his exceptional work and talent.