Tashkeel is pleased to present Cairo Illustrated: Stories from Heliopolis, the debut solo exhibition by illustrator, designer and animator Nora Zeid. The exhibition explores how tourism, infrastructure and changes in the urban landscape have influenced the way Cairenes define and interact with its heritage, and the overall impact on narrative and collective memory. Nora Zeid's solo exhibition is the final public outcome by the Critical Practice Programme 2020 cohort, and the 13th public outcome from the programme since its inception in 2014.

Cairo's ever-changing urban landscape and recent projects such as flyover bridges have sparked debates regarding how such infrastructure affects the city’s harmony. The value of built heritage in Cairo – and Egypt as a whole – has been greatly tied to age, its celebration often reserved to pharaonic, Islamic and Coptic sites. Even then, their value is mostly linked to tourism.

Driven with a desire to re-establish her relationship with the city, Zeid gathered memories from the neighbourhoods. She found that each memory was tied to the next by space, and a virtual layer of historical facts was added to these personal experiences. This created a duality, between the personal and the general, the small and the big picture, making the topic of heritage more accessible.

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Nora was mentored by the leading design professional, researcher and educator Ghalia Elsrakbi, and Möbius Design Studio co-founder, Tashkeel member and American University of Sharjah lecture, Hala Al Ani. Cairo Illustrated: Stories from Heliopolis will be accompanied by a printed catalogue featuring contributions by Mahy Mourad, architect and design instructor at American University of Cairo; and Omniya Abdel Barr, an architect, heritage expert and Barakat Trust Fellow at Victoria & Albert Museum, London.

Previous exhibitions by Critical Practice Programme 2020: Kn-Bkhair by Hamdan Buti Al Shamsi; A Terranean Love Note by Mays Albaik, Wonder Land by Hind Mezaina.

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How To Book Your Visit*
Visits by appointment only. Call 04 336 3313 or email tashkeel@tashkeel.org (walk-ins permitted only if maximum capacity of 10 is not exceeded).

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Programming*

Artist-led tours
Book by emailing tashkeel@tashkeel.org

Tuesday 14 September (opening day tour) | 5pm, 6pm ,7pm

Saturday 18 September | 10am, 11am, 12pm
For the 11am slot, Nora Zeid will be joined in conversation with Hala Al Ani, Möbius Design co-founder, Tashkeel member and American University of Sharjah lecturer.

Saturday 9 October | 10am, 11am, 12pm
For the 11am slot, Nora Zeid will be joined in conversation with Tashkeel member and comic book artist Mohammed Al Shaibani (MFA).

Saturday 16 October | 10am, 11am, 12pm

Saturday 23 October | 10am, 11am, 12pm

Workshops

25 September
Digital Illustration

Discover the basics of digital illustration, from layout and rough sketching to creating line art and adding colour. Explore different illustration styles and find out what sets them apart. Learn how to use reference to create vibrant and engaging illustrations. Tablet/laptop with Photoshop or iPad with Procreate is required.

2 October
Drop In & Draw: Drawing Daily

Discover the basics of digital illustration, from layout and rough sketching to creating line art and adding colour. Explore different illustration styles and find out what sets them apart. Learn how to use reference to create vibrant and engaging illustrations. Tablet/laptop with Photoshop or iPad with Procreate is required.

18 October
Commercial Illustration

Networking session and workshop! Get the lowdown to creating designs for clients, from the moment the client makes contact to when the work is delivered, and payment is processed. Proceed from creating a solid illustration design, to ideation and delivery. Includes tips on how to improve client-designer communication

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*In line with current Dubai Government regulations, all visitors to Tashkeel are required to submit proof of vaccination upon arrival, wear masks at all times and use the sanitiser stations available. Unvaccinated visitors may present a negative PCR test result taken no less than 48 hours in advance.