AFRICA FORUM 2018

Gates of africa

The etymology of “gate” refers to an opening, entrance, or a passageway for exchange, trade, growth.
Gates of Africa is an art installation consisting of wooden structures inspired by African patterns found in traditional fabric, wall ornaments, and furniture to name but a few. Mirroring patterns found in African nature, the repetition of shapes and colors, textures and lines are laid out in a variety of arrangements, allowing for a visual rhythm to flood the senses, while still maintaining a unique cultural identity through the different styles and motifs, as well as the personal touch of the artist.

AZZA EZZAT

Since symbols are visual expressions of a society's culture, its philosophy, beliefs, and history And they signify the collective wisdom of the tribe, communicate knowledge, feelings and values; it is not unusual to find that they play an important role in Africans' perception of reality and are interwoven into African artwork, allowing it to speak to minds and hearts.

Design by Azza Abdelaziz Ezzat
Production by F5 Agency
Curated by Peacock for Art

African pyramid

In the framework of Africa, organized by the Ministry of Investment and International Cooperation of Egypt and the COMESA Regional Investment Agency (RIA), under the High Patronage of H.E. Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, on December 8th and 9th, in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt; Peacock was commissioned to create the art installation “African Pyramid”.
As a continent known for its wealth of rivers, these different bodies of water around which nations were built and cultures flourished, it was only natural that the pyramidical sculpture representing the African continent would be a symbolic display of its life blood.

MOHAMED EL BOGHDADY

The pyramid rests on a blue foundation symbolizing the Nile, the longest of many rivers in Africa, while other rivers on the continent are represented through cultural flags exhibiting national traditional patterns. These flags converge towards the top and together form a perfectly shaped pyramid reminiscent of the ones built by the ancient Egyptians and which remain standing until today, a testimony of excellence from past times, and a reminder of the creative abilities of human beings, which transcend time.

Design by Mohamed El Boghdady
Production by Pronox
Curated by Peacock for Art
Curatorial statement by Christophe Malherbe

• Venue: International Congress Center - Maritime Jolie Ville, Cairo, Egypt
• Duration: December 2018
• Art commissioned by Peacock for art for the Egyptian Ministry of Investment, COMESA (Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa)