From Brass to Steel
“From Brass to Steel” traces the dynamic and decades-deep practice of Egyptian artist Fathi Afifi, whose paintings pulse with the weight of labor and the rhythm of celebration.
In this sweeping exhibition, Afifi’s world unfolds: musicians in blinding reds and yellows, their horns almost shouting; belly dancers mid-gesture, suspended between power and performance; factory workers under the crush of red steel, anonymous in blue.
Afifi captures not just subjects, but systems—of sound, of sweat, of survival. His brushwork is raw, fast, and physical, echoing the very lives he paints. No hierarchy exists between a trumpeter and a welder. All are part of the same continuum—bodies in motion, hands at work, expressions of resilience.
Across these works, brass becomes a symbol of vibrancy, performance, and community; steel, of industry, pressure, and permanence. Together, they form the dual spirit of Afifi’s visual universe.
This exhibition doesn’t settle into a single theme. Instead, it mirrors the chaos and choreography of life in motion—on the street, in the workshop, on stage. Through Afifi’s eyes, color isn’t just aesthetic—it’s memory, protest, and pride.