For many in the art world, artist Chant Avedissian is known for his nostalgic stencil paintings of Egypt’s Golden Age. In 2013, his series Icons of the Nile (1991-2010) set a record for the highest price for a piece by a living contemporary Arab artist when it sold for more than $1.5 million at Sotheby’s Doha. Avedissian died in Cairo in 2018.
But four brothers from Downtown Cairo remember him as a neighbour, a childhood friend and the artistic protege of the city’s culturally active Armenian community. Their father, George Mikaelian, a bookshop owner and arts patron, supported Avedissian’s work throughout his career in Egypt. “I kept asking my father, 'What are we going to do with all these paintings?'” says Hratch Mikaelian, the eldest of the brothers. “He just said: 'You will see, you will see.'”
George's ensuing collection, amassed over decades, is now the subject of the exhibition Chant Egyptien, on view at ArtTalks in Cairo. It shows how Avedissian experimented prolifically with a variety of styles and mediums. “Every one of Chant’s exhibitions had its own subject and style; he developed his styles a lot,” says Chris Mikaelian, Hratch’s younger brother who took art lessons at the same studio as Avedissian.
Armenian folkloric dance traditions, the lives of rural Egyptian women, Islamic arts and Egypt’s ancient heritage were among the subjects that the artist captured in painting, photography and costume design. They were the stepping stones for his Icons of the Nile portraits, which he produced in the later decades of his life.
Owner of the Reader’s Corner bookshops, George was born in Cairo in 1914 to Armenian parents. The chain's main branch was in Downtown Cairo, with others in Egypt’s luxury hotels, including Le Meridien and Nile Hilton.
Beyond selling books, George was a founding member of the committee Les amis de la culture Armenienne, which aimed to support the younger generation of Egyptian-Armenians. “Some of the meetings were held at the Reader’s Corner bookshop,” says Hratch, who liked to listen in on the conversations. “They were a very interesting group who came from different walks of life, and they really cared about the culture of what they called the future generation, which was me and my brothers at the time.”
But George also took a personal interest in art and bought works from young Egyptian artists such as Ismail Sami and Hassan Heshmat. “My father always encouraged young artists. At that time nobody gave them exposure because very prominent Egyptian artists dominated the scene,” says Hratch. “Not all of them were very good, but he kept buying their works to encourage them.”
When we took the paintings out of storage, we saw them completely differently. Some had been packed for 30 or 40 years
Hratch Mikealian,
family friend of the late Chant Avedissian
Avedissian, the son of Armenian refugees, was born in Cairo in 1951, and lived two blocks from the Reader’s Corner. “Our parents knew each other, and we were part of the same clubs,” says Chris, who has a passion for fashion design and works as an arts consultant today. “Chant and I took private drawing lessons together at the same studio. But Chant didn’t need any lessons because he was so talented. He could produce an artwork in just a few seconds.”
Their teacher was Alexandrian artist Nora Azadian who helped Avedissian plan his first exhibitions. “With the help of Mrs Nora, Chant started organising exhibitions from a young age. My father supported him because he liked his work,” says Chris. “It was a relationship that went beyond buying and selling art.”
But the opportunities for young artists in Egypt were limited. “I used to see Chant at my father’s shop and ask him frankly, 'What are you doing?'” recalls Hratch. “Because I could see the challenges that young Egyptian artists faced.”
In 1970, Avedissian travelled to Canada to pursue his studies at the School of Art and Design in Montreal. Then, after a brief return to Egypt, he moved to Paris in the late 1970s to attend the National Higher School of Decorative Arts.
Avedissian first began his explorations of Egyptian culture in the '70s. “He had just returned from Montreal, and maybe he was feeling nostalgic about Egypt and its ancient history,” says Chris. Among the works on display at the exhibition today, is a series of paintings derived from the Pharaoh Akhenaten's daughter, who appears in ancient portrayals with an elongated head. “They are among my favourite of Chant’s work,” says Chris.
He also took an interest in photography, with the support of photographer Shake Alban, who ran a studio in Cairo. “He took excellent photographs of the mosques of Old Cairo, and also travelled to Upper Egypt. He used a Rolleiflex camera with black and white film. At the time, it was difficult to find negative film and printing paper in Egypt,” says Chris, who worked at Alban’s studio. “I helped to source the materials, and he gifted me his collection of photographs.”
And while Avedissian celebrated Egyptian culture, he was involved in Cairo’s Armenian community. “He was always happy to help and contribute paintings or postcards,” says Chris. In the mid-1970s, he designed the costumes for the Armenian folkloric dance group Sardarapat. Two of the ensuing designs are part of George Mikaelian’s collection today, and are on display at ArtTalks.
The experience led to the artist producing a series of paintings of Armenian dancers, which is also on show at the exhibition. “You can feel the movement in the paintings, as if they are really dancing,” says Chris.
In 1981, Avedissian returned from Paris and began an important collaboration with Hassan Fathy. The pioneering architect introduced Egypt’s vernacular mud and adobe building traditions to modern design. Travelling together across rural Egypt, the pair produced a book of Fathy’s work, accompanied by Avedissian’s photographs.
Throughout, Avedissian's photographic endeavours seeped into his paintings. “He painted life in Egyptian villages, the homes in the Nubian style, historic mosques,” says Chris. His paintings of the women from rural Egypt, known as the Falahas, which he began in the '70s, also form part of George’s collection.
These motifs and influences would no doubt culminate in the renowned stencil paintings of the 1990s, which the artist became known for until his death in 2018. The exhibition includes some of these works, which are on loan from other private collections.
The Reader’s Corner still exists in Downtown Cairo, and George’s sons took over the business after his death in 1986. The shop has now evolved into an arts advisory and framers. Yet Cairo’s once-burgeoning Armenian community has dwindled considerably.
Hratch says that going through the collection overwhelmed him with memories. “When we took the paintings out of storage, we saw them completely differently. Some had been packed for 30 or 40 years. I get emotional talking about it because it was our childhood and our youth. It was a beautiful period where there was a lot of collaboration. Everything was done with love, there was no conflict or competing interests.”
He hopes the exhibition will inspire a younger generation of Egyptian artists. “There’s a serious movement of Egyptian art that is noticeable in Zamalek and Downtown Cairo. We feel that Chant should have his position there as well, as an Egyptian-Armenian artist.”
Chant Egyptien is on view at ArtTalk in Zamalek, Cairo, until Saturday, January 15
Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
Company%20Profile
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MATCH INFO
Real Madrid 3 (Kroos 4', Ramos 30', Marcelo 37')
Eibar 1 (Bigas 60')
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Top investing tips for UAE residents in 2021
Build an emergency fund: Make sure you have enough cash to cover six months of expenses as a buffer against unexpected problems before you begin investing, advises Steve Cronin, the founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com.
Think long-term: When you invest, you need to have a long-term mindset, so don’t worry about momentary ups and downs in the stock market.
Invest worldwide: Diversify your investments globally, ideally by way of a global stock index fund.
Is your money tied up: Avoid anything where you cannot get your money back in full within a month at any time without any penalty.
Skip past the promises: “If an investment product is offering more than 10 per cent return per year, it is either extremely risky or a scam,” Mr Cronin says.
Choose plans with low fees: Make sure that any funds you buy do not charge more than 1 per cent in fees, Mr Cronin says. “If you invest by yourself, you can easily stay below this figure.” Managed funds and commissionable investments often come with higher fees.
Be sceptical about recommendations: If someone suggests an investment to you, ask if they stand to gain, advises Mr Cronin. “If they are receiving commission, they are unlikely to recommend an investment that’s best for you.”
Get financially independent: Mr Cronin advises UAE residents to pursue financial independence. Start with a Google search and improve your knowledge via expat investing websites or Facebook groups such as SimplyFI.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MOTHER%20OF%20STRANGERS
%3Cp%3EAuthor%3A%20Suad%20Amiry%3Cbr%3EPublisher%3A%20Pantheon%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EPages%3A%20304%3Cbr%3EAvailable%3A%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
List of UAE medal winners
Gold
Faisal Al Ketbi (Open weight and 94kg)
Talib Al Kirbi (69kg)
Omar Al Fadhli (56kg)
Silver
Zayed Al Kaabi (94kg)
Khalfan Belhol (85kg)
Zayed Al Mansoori (62kg)
Mouza Al Shamsi (49kg women)
Bronze
Yahia Mansour Al Hammadi (Open and 94kg)
Saood Al Hammadi (77kg)
Said Al Mazroui (62kg)
Obaid Al Nuaimi (56kg)
Bashayer Al Matrooshi (62kg women)
Reem Abdulkareem (45kg women)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Sleep Well Beast
The National
4AD
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: N2 Technology
Founded: 2018
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Startups
Size: 14
Funding: $1.7m from HNIs
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESmartCrowd%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2018%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESiddiq%20Farid%20and%20Musfique%20Ahmed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%20%2F%20PropTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%24650%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2035%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeries%20A%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EVarious%20institutional%20investors%20and%20notable%20angel%20investors%20(500%20MENA%2C%20Shurooq%2C%20Mada%2C%20Seedstar%2C%20Tricap)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs: 2018 Mercedes-Benz E 300 Cabriolet
Price, base / as tested: Dh275,250 / Dh328,465
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder
Power: 245hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 370Nm @ 1,300rpm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.0L / 100km
