Ard El Lewa #34, 2016
Mixed media
8 x 4 1/2 feet
Courtesy of the artist

Ard El Lewa, metaphorically bound to the popular, yet marginalized Cairo neighborhood of the same name, is rooted in artist Ibrahim Ahmed’s own experience as an immigrant. The work finds inspiration in the tapestry traditions found in countries across the Silk Road, and beyond. Through mixed media assemblages composed largely of faded and distressed cloth, Ahmed questions the meaning of place and investigates the dynamics of borders, migration, and transnational identity. Ard El Lewa formally recalls familiar architectural and decorative motifs that have cross-cultural significance; however the piece remains ambiguous, challenging the notion of an “authentic” national identity.

www.ibrahimahmediii.com