Essence of Egypt | عطر مصر

Essence of Egypt (عطر مصر) is a group exhibition of works by six Palestinian artists. It is in the upstairs gallery of Fann À Porter, Jumeirah 2, Dubai. It runs from 17 September to 25 November 2026.

The gallery presents it as "a presentation of Palestinian artistic journeys shaped in Egypt and inspired by its art and culture". The works date from the 1960s to the early 2000s and range from printmaking and etching to mixed media, leather works and large-scale compositions. Works listed include Nabil Anani's Intifada (1988), mixed media on leather, and Samira Badran's Roots Green (1979), an etching with aquatint. Kamel Al Moghani's Jerusalem (1996) is in mixed media on sanded board. Abdul Rahman Al Muzayyen's The Land Day (1980), ink on paper, is also listed.

The artists are Nabil Anani (b. 1943), Samira Badran (b. 1954) and Tayseer Barakat (b. 1959). They are joined by Mostafa Al Hallaj (1938 to 2002), Kamel Al Moghani (1944 to 2008) and Abdul Rahman Al Muzayyen (b. 1943). Anani is shown with leather and mixed media works from 1988 and 1989, made in the early years of the Intifada. Badran is shown with early etchings and mixed-media compositions; her father, the artist Jamal Badran, encouraged her to study painting in Egypt and Italy. Barakat's selection includes classical works and experimental pieces on wood and textile from the 1990s and 2010s.

Al Hallaj is represented by print works and graphic cycles; the gallery cites his linocut Lydd (1965), named after the Palestinian city. According to the gallery, most of Al Moghani's production was lost in the war in Gaza. His works here are mixed media compositions; the gallery places his turn towards Palestinian folklore and cultural heritage in the 1980s and 1990s. Al Muzayyen shows calligraphic works from the Anat & the Intifada and Al Asayel series.

Essence of Egypt is the gallery's first modern exhibition, made in collaboration with George Al Ama and Amjad Ghannam. It is also the first show in its renovated upstairs gallery, which is dedicated to modern Arab art.