A SUPERB OPENING OF THE SAROUKHAN EXHIBITION AT THE BIBLIOTHECA ALEXANDRINA

AZG DAILY
13-01-2010

Diaspora

An important exhibition on the works of the famous Armeno-Egyptian
cartoonist Alexandre Saroukhan was inaugurated 9th December 2009
at 8:00 pm at the Alexandria Library. The exhibition is a joint
undertaking between the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and AGBU Cairo and is
organized in the memory of the great cartoonist Saroukhan (1.10.1898
– 1.1.1977).

Around 300 people attended the inauguration. Artists, officials, fans
and mostly younger generations had all come out of respect and love
for this great artist. The exhibition offers amateurs of fine arts an
opportunity to see the works of one of the most famous cartoonists of
Egypt and the World. Around 100 works are displayed in this exhibition.

Present for this great opening were Maestro Sherif Mohie El Din,
Director of the Alex Library Arts Center, the Library’s prominent
art consultants Mostafa El Razzaz and Farahat Gomaa who both gave a
speech about Saroukhan’s significant impact on cartoon art and the
political scene of Egypt in the 2nd & 3rd quarters of the 20th Century.

Present also, the main sponsor and co-organizer of this event AGBU
Cairo with several of its board members and its President Dr. Viken
Djizmedjian, AGBU Alexandria and its President Sarkis Vartsbedian ,
AGBU Europe Board member Mrs. Astrid Alexanian and Saroukhan’s family
members: the Neredians who have provided all the paintings of the
exhibition ..

Many prominent artists such as Farouk Shehata, Sarkis Tossounian,
Hrant Keshishian (the co-ordinator of the event), Saber Hegazy,
Mohamed Abla, Amr Fahmy, Medhat Nasser also attended the opening as
well as many Armenian community members of Cairo and Alexandria plus
hundreds of fine arts fans.

Saroukhan was considered a pioneer of political cartoons in Egypt. He
gained fame in this kind of satire when his first political cartoon
was published in 1928 on the seventh page of the 123rd issue of Rose Al
Youssef magazine. His last political cartoon appeared in the newspaper
Al Akhbar on the day of his decease on 1st January 1977.

Saroukhan was a complete artist. He has drawn social cartoons,
caricature portraits and descriptive cartoons in books. He has
sometimes drawn cartoons commenting in a sarcastic or humorous way
on some aspects related to art and culture, apart of course from his
political cartoons which he drew daily.

Saroukhan’s political cartoons reflect the transient political events
of his time. Some of his political drawings which are displayed
in this exhibition are considered classics because they underline
significant moments in history thanks to the artist’s extraordinary
imagination and talent.

AGBU Cairo which is always keen to have our rich Armeno-Egyptian
cultural heritage known to local and foreign communities through
prestigious organizations (in this case the Bibliotecha Alexandrina),
sponsored the organization of the exhibition by printing a 24 page
booklet on Saroukhan’s life with samples of his works, and by also
printing the banners, the invitations and brochures of the event. AGBU
Cairo also assumed the organizational expenses of the event (framing
of paintings, wrapping and transport, honoraries of staff, etc..).

The exhibition remained open until 29th December 2009.