Three female artists reproduce hope, beauty, spirituality, in traditional handicrafts

“The main thing is to be moved, to love, to hope, to tremble, and to live,” said Auguste Rodin, the notable French sculptor, considered the progenitor of modern sculpture, on art.

At Jameel House of Traditional Arts in Cairo, three women of different ages, cultural backgrounds, and idiosyncratic personalities followed their passion, searching for hope, new beginnings, spirituality, and beauty amid ugliness. They joined the Art Jameel House programmes to learn handicrafts, which include carpentry and ceramics.

The Art Jameel House in Cairo is an educational institute which provides classes in traditional Islamic geometry, drawing, colour harmony, and arabesque studies, as well as specialised training in ceramics, glass and gypsum, metalwork, and woodwork.

All three artists have valid reasons to start from scratch in professions where they might not have the required experience. One of them gave up a long-time career; another reconsidered establishing her own workshop; while the third finally satisfied her ultimate passion for reviving Islamic civilisation and culture.

“I was originally working in the business administration field, specifically human resources. But my soul was always thirsty for the arts,” said Nesreen Sharara.

Sharara, 37, studied business administration at Cairo University. She spent years in this filed, then moved to civil society, as she was trying to reach a job which somehow related to the Arts. “I work as project manager at Safarni, an Intercultural Children’s Workshop.”

She was born in the United Arab Emirates and used to visit Egypt on regular vacations until she finally settled down in the country. “Egypt changed very much. As everything turned uglier, I was trying to search for beauty in everything in my life. I always have a craving for beauty,” said Sharara.