The Balloons seller

The project addresses a shift in the concept of values in Cairo and broaches the average citizen’s attitude towards changes in the city which occurred aloof from any historical, social or political values. The city loses its glory as it transforms into a disfigured monster.

 

The statues are:

 

Talaat Harb (1867 – 1941) the founder of the Bank of Egypt and a group of companies. Being a celebrity of the modern Egyptian economy, he founded Bank of Egypt which contributed to the creation of many companies bearing the name of Egypt, such as Misr Company for Spinning and Weaving, Egypt Air and Egypt Insurance and Misr Travel, Egypt Studio and others.

 

Mustafa Kamil Pasha (1874 – 1908) Egyptian writer and politician, The founder of the National Party, which had called for strengthening the ties with the Ottoman Empire, and the newspaper Al-Liwa’ ‘The Standard’. He advocated the re-establishment of the Islamic University. Noted for his anti-colonialism, his pioneering role in the renaissance through the dissemination of education and the establishment of the National University. His efforts led to exposing the crimes of the British occupation and to condemn them in international courts, especially after Denshawai incident which had resulted in the fall of Lord Cromer, the British High Commissioner in Egypt .

 

Both statues are located in major squares, named after both figures, in the city center. Great historical and national memories are associated with the places of these monuments. For example, a statue and a square in memory of Mustafa Kamil and his great role in leading Egypt through its independence were established after the 1952 revolution. The inauguration began with a military funeral followed by celebration of the country independence and transfer of his remains to the current mausoleum.

 

Now both statues stand amid chaos and unprecedented lack of public interest. One can scarcely find a passerby, a street vendor or a shopkeeper aware of the history of these monuments or whom they commemorate.