- Title: Egyptian artist gives ostrich eggs new lease of life
- Date: 8th December 2016
- Summary: SHARQIYA, EGYPT (DECEMBER 2, 2016) (REUTERS) FARM GATE READING IN ARABIC "KHAIR AL-NILE FOR OSTRICHES" VARIOUS OF ARTIST MAHA SHALABY AND OSTRICH FARMER, SAFWAT AL-SHERIF INSPECTING OSTRICH EGGS CAIRO, EGYPT (NOVEMBER 29, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF ARTIST MAHA SHALABY ETCHING AN EGG (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ARTIST MAHA SHALABY, SAYING: "It's true that I found out about this type of art at an ostrich farm, where everything related to ostriches was produced. Eggs, feathers, leather. So that was the first time I saw ostrich eggs in real life, and I thought I wanted to paint them, especially because their walls are thick, so they can withstand pressure. So I started trying to paint them and carve them." VARIOUS OF ARTIST MAHA SHALABY PREPARING HER PAINTS VARIOUS OF MAHA SHALABY PAINTING, ETCHING AN EGG (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ARTIST MAHA SHALABY, SAYING: "There are difficulties, especially because there aren't as many ostrich farms as there used to be, because they're not very popular in Egypt. So I started searching on the internet for farms, and I found some, for example, in faraway places like Sharqiya, or on the Cairo-Alex road. Then I call them and go there to get the eggs." VARIOUS OF MAHA SHALABY PAINTING, ETCHING EGGS SHARQIYA, EGYPT (DECEMBER 2, 2016) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) OSTRICH FARMER, SAFWAT AL-SHERIF, SAYING: "Today, everything about the ostrich gets sold in Egypt. It used to be that some things weren't sold or produced. For example, the ostrich feathers used for decoration weren't produced in Egypt, they used to be thrown away. The eggshells used to be thrown away too. But now there are artists in Egypt who like to paint them, and others who carve them, or use colours on them, etc." CAIRO, EGYPT (NOVEMBER 29, 2016) (REUTERS) MAHA SHALABY PAINTING OSTRICH EGGS VARIOUS OF PAINTED EGGS
- Embargoed: 23rd December 2016 12:15
- Keywords: Egypt ostrich eggs art artist
- Location: SHARQIYA, EGYPT
- City: SHARQIYA, EGYPT
- Country: Egypt
- Reuters ID: LVA0015C0TMQD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Egyptian businesswoman Maha Shalaby is giving a new lease of life to an ancient art form.
Ostrich eggs may never rival her import-export business for revenue, but as painted works of art they have revived interest in an object that was still being thrown away only a few years ago.
Maha's nine-year love affair with the tough, creamy white shells began during a visit to an ostrich farm.
"That was the first time I saw ostrich eggs in real life, and I thought I wanted to paint them, especially because their walls are thick, so they can withstand the pressure. So I started trying to paint on them and carve them," she said.
The eggs are first emptied and sterilized over a couple of days before Maha sets to work with her choice of ceramic paints.
Maha says sourcing the eggs is a major hurdle.
"There aren't as many ostrich farms as there used to be, because they're not very popular in Egypt, so I started searching on the internet, for farms, and I would find one in for example Sharqiya or Cairo-Alex road, in these faraway places. Then I call them, and go there to get the eggs," she said.
Farm owner Safwat al-Sherif is enjoying the resurgence of interest in the large African bird.
"Today, everything about the ostrich gets sold in Egypt. It used to be that some things weren't sold or produced. For example, the ostrich feathers used for decoration weren't produced in Egypt, they used to be thrown away. The eggshells used to be thrown away too. But now there are artists in Egypt who like to paint them, and others who carve them, or use colours on them, etc."
Less opulent than the renowned Faberge eggs made for Russia's ill-fated imperial family, Maha's eggs sell for between 500-800 Egyptian Pounds, between 27 to 43 U.S dollars. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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