ABOU ELYOUN
Abou Elyoun An enigmatic, fascinating artist, Abou Elyoun did not study sculpture in art school, pursuing Egyptology instead. But his natural, raw talent, combined with a heightened sensitivity, passion, and understanding of ancient Egyptian art, led to Abou’s glorious artworks. His faces are immediately majestic, royal, and timeless, capturing the intensity of divine ancestors, but with such a living beauty they seem to breathe with life. Whether carving in stark plaster or crude wood, he has the subtle touch and the most delicate curve to lend his faces an exquisite Egyptian quality: bold, heavy-lidded eyes; strong, angular noses; lavish, full lips, and perfect symmetry. His sculptures feel like they were only just recovered from the depths of a tomb, and there’s no question of Abou’s heritage, as a direct descendent of the world’s first and finest artist. In discovering his artwork, one also witnesses the artist discovering himself, as he is not only humble but surprised and grateful at the enthusiasm towards his beguiling work. —D.N.
I was born in the countryside, in Assiut Governorate, where I spent my childhood and youth. I joined Cairo University and studied Egyptology with passion, but I was also passionate about art.
I used to work in some galleries while doing my studies. Eventually, I was working in a workshop specializing in making replicas of antiquities. My colleagues were students of art, and the head of the workshop was a university professor in one of the art colleges, but they treated me with contempt. I was trying to develop my skills, but faced many challenges. The head of the workshop assigned me alone to write hieroglyphic texts and make the decorations on the statues or some relief carving panels. I hoped to sculpt a statue for commission, but was never asked. Now, I have a personal philosophy through which to work, and rely on inspiration.
…When I was a child I felt that I was carrying a message, I couldn’t understand or define what it was, but this feeling was sweeping me strongly. One-day I told someone about this feeling, so I felt that death was far from me, because I had not delivered my message yet. Only now the matter became clearer, at least to me. Now I look to the future with passion, as I look at the distant past as my home.
—Abou Elyoun
ABOU ELYOUN
