KhotoumN E R M I N E S A I D

Costume Installation ExhibitionInspired By Abd El Hady El Gazzar

www.facebook.com/khotoum Hashtag: #KHOTOUM

NERMINE SAID, an Egyptian Costume designer,

graduated from AUC majoring in theater. Nermine

received her diploma in fashion design and

dress-making from the University of Pennsylvania

in 2002 and a post graduate diploma in folklore

from The Egyptian Academy of Arts in 2005.

Nermine Said designs costumes for both theater

and cinema. She is interested in the analysis of

characters, symbolic powers of accessories, and

the psychological influence of colours. However,

through her passion to drama and scenography,

Nermine has broadened her interests to include

visual arts and installations.

Her latest credits include designing the costumes for:"El Nas el Fou2k", a play directed by Mahmoud el Lozy.

"No Exit", a play directed by Omar El-MoutazBel'lah (Teatro independ-

ent theater).

"Suicidal Notions", a film directed by Iman El Nagar

“Oedipus in Egypt", a play directed by Sabri El-Hamus (Amsterdam,

Holland).

“CapcanaTimpului", a play directed by Gabriela Dumitru (Bucharest,

Romania).

About The Artist I am you, you are me

You indulge.. In my pain

I wear you, you wear me

You were me.. when.. I were you

I touch you..Through your suffering

Is there a way out..of being you..??

Through fabrics, patterns, colours, accessories and coups speaks the unspoken, unfolding secrets that lay beneath layers of beliefs and traditions. Those secrets are taboos locked behind seals. They only open up to those seeking an-swers, and dared ask the forbidden question.

Nermine Said Cairo, 2014

KHOTOUM is a Costume Design (installation & photography) exhibition that is inspired by the

great Egyptian Painter, Abd El-Hady el Gazzar. It is

about women, and for the women still suffering

daily from the oppression and social strains that

prevent them from becoming who and how they

want to be.

KHOTOUM literally means “Seals” in Arabic,

stands for women’s causes and their rights. It

reveals and lights up those issues that are consid-

ered as Taboos in back-warded, religious, & con-

servative society. Those issues have been locked

behind seals for long time, hence, forgotten. Issues

like Child Marriage, Sexual Objectification of

Women, Deprivation of Self-expression, and Soci-

etal Hypocrisy. KHOTOUM unlocks those seals in a

fearless attempt to expose and discuss these

taboos hoping to spread more awareness about

women’s right to live and exist in a non-sexist and

non-judgmental society.

About Khotoum

KHOTOUM is inspired by the great Egyptian Painter Abd El-Haddy El-Gazzar.

El Gazzar(1925-1966) is one of the pioneers in Post-modern Egyptian

art. He occupies a unique position among the artists of his generation.

Even after his death, his work continues to challenge artists, intellectu-

als, and critics, both in Egypt, and abroad. Gazzar's paintings are true

reflections of the Egyptian society of the 1940’s to 1960’s. He uses col-

ours and motifs as symbolic language to depict social and moral behav-

ior in Egyptian society, which had been captured in many academic

researches. However, mostly in the research work of Dr. Adeela Esmat

in her study "The folk Motifs in El-Gazzar's paintings and their symbols in

Egyptian Folklore, analytical study" that, uniquely, focused upon the pre-

dominant socio-historic and folk artistic influence of the indigenous Egyp-

tian society upon the works of El- Gazzar.

Through that profound research, as an Egyptian.. woman.. and a cos-

tume designer, Nermine Said was intrigued by the symbolic and mean-

ingful messages behind Gazzar's paintings that shed light on women’s

status in Egyptian society.

The following paintings were the inspiration behind KHOTOUM: “The Green Fool”, “Zelikha's wedding”, “The woman with an anklet”, and

“The popular chorus”

Khotoum Inspirations

1st reflection: The seal of “The green fool”

In a conservative society and under the pretense

of religion, traditions and customs, many of the

taboos against women were set, masks were

worn, instincts dominated common sense, and

madness prevailed.

KHOTOUM views a “society", even though its artifi-

cial greenish post modernization glamour,

weaves it’s spiders’ web to suck the life out of

women who dare to question the real meaning of

their existence.

2nd Reflection: The seal of “Zelikha’s wedding”

KHOTOUM sees Zelikha as a prey that was thrown in a closed ring, chased and left bleeding

before finally being killed.

Zelikha is a victim of our society, her childhood was destroyed and her innocence was raped.

Moreover, we burden her with responsibilities she is not physically or psychologically ready for.

We even condemn her if she dares to fail in any of those hefty responsibilities.

Khotoum Reflections

4th Reflection: The Seal of “The Popular Chorus”

In a society that looks upon women as a taboo, her image and voice are preconditioned to be

locked behind that obscuring .. rather deforming veil ... depriving her from all her rights. She is

not allowed to discuss out her needs, desires, thoughts, dreams, ambitious, and goals. Depriva-

tion of self-expression, that institutionally humiliates women at her home and work, is part of

the daily socially accepted practice.

Forced to provide for themselves and their families, some women have to step into that large,

ugly and harsh world where there is no respect for them as human beings, let alone their

gender; even though they abide to those social preconditions.

3rd Reflection: The seal of “Woman with an anklet”

In a religious conservative society, women sexual

life is only confined to that one after marriage. And

even then, it is considered a taboo to speak out her

innate desires or needs. Paradoxically, we raise

girls as sexual objects.. Commodities ready to be

purchased for the highest price. As a matter of

fact, virginity is a precondition that always guaran-

tees a good deal.. For every party..

Khotoum Reflections

Installation

Khotoum Exhibition

Installation

Photography

Photography

Designer/Project Art Director: Nermine SaidPhotographer: Sameh Wassef Photo Art Director: Amall IshakMake-up Artist: May NabilModels: Sandra Assad, May Nabil, Rana el MougiMarketing Consultant: Mohamed El ShahedMedia Planner and Communication Consultant: Nirvana SaidIngez crew:Saber El Sayed/AhmedAshmawy/Basel Nzmy/Sayed Naggar/Ahmed Ismaeil Graphics Sr. Art Director: Marwa MostafaMain Tailor: Sobhy MohamadyTailor: Nefisa.Jewelry craftsman: Ahmed kamaEvent Photographer: Rami Ibrahim (Momo)

Khotoum CreditsKhotoum Creative Team. Who is who

Sameh WassefPhotographer

| Egypt| Cairo based photographer Sameh Wassef is considered

one of the most well established reliable highly technical commer-

cial photographers in the Egyptian market , covering wide range

of photography: food, products and interiors, landscapes and

travel shots. Recently, Sameh received technical training for prod-

ucts and interiors in both Germany and Dubai.

Special thanks to: Dr. Leela Esmat Dr. Ahmed KhogaAhmed El Attar Aiman AzabawiIsmaelia CompanyEng: Mohamed Hassan Nevine El-IbiaryKarim Abd El-malakIsmail Al-BaharOmar Barazi

Nermine SaidDesigner/Project Artistic Director

Egyptian Costume designer, graduated from AUC

majoring in theater. Nermine received her diploma

in fashion design and dress-making from the Univer-

sity of Pennsylvania in 2002 and a post graduate

diploma in folklore from The Egyptian Academy of

Arts in 2005.

Amall IshakPhoto Art DirectorAmall Ishak , Egyptian, Cairo based, female photographer. Amall Started professional pho-

tography in 2007 after quitting her Pharmaceutical career. Being people oriented, Ishak

specialized in portrait and wedding photography in Egypt and abroad. Ishak also has experi-

ence in stage photography, and one of her latest work in this field was with the great Ziad

Rahbani on his visits to Cairo, 2013. She participated in workshops with the distinctive fash-

ion photographer Manny Librodo, and gave some photography workshops as well. Now her

work expanded to shooting fashion and commercial work, as well as participating in artistic

projects

Khotoum Creative Team. Who is who

May NabilMake Artist

Enthusiast Cairo-based 35 years old independent Makeup Artist May Nabil has been the subject of multiple

impacts. Her passion for most Art aspects pulled her after college studies of French Literature & History

towards the world of Fashion & Makeup Artistry.

For May, it is a matter of visual concepts as much as a craft. Therefore, she joined a 2 years Fashion Design for-

mation at L’Institut Technique de la Mode, followed by 6 months Makeup course at Rasuola Lauren private

Studio where she learned various techniques and landed the Independent Theatre scene to practice the artist-

ry. Being a dedicated backstage team member with Teatro Independent Theatre Group since 2007, allowed

May to expand her skills and future vision on how she want to proceed her Artistry path.

Designing Makeup profiles as well as styling for international Artists like Salomé Båumlin Photography project

& other independent local photographers, fueled her imagination to create makeup designs for video art and

stage performances where she project herself and other individual’s fantasies. May is currently experimenting

with different material & ideas and soon shall release her major personalized Makeup Portfolio

Photo Courtesy: Mohamed Khalifa

Rana El MoguiThe popular Chorus

An aspiring artist, currently working in a corporate job

without lamenting, lots of women are compelled to (work under dire circumstances and) undergo lots of

hardship alongside the tough nature of their jobs, to tolerate the draconian conditions of our retrogres-

sive society and its hostility toward her participation in the work field. All these impediments have to be en-

dured with all tolerance to be able to support her unemployed husband and feed her children.

Sandra AssaadZelikha’s Wedding

Sandra works as a wedding planner and currently finishing her studies in Film making at the French univer-

sity in Cairo. Sandra directed her first short movie "Paulette" in 2013, and currently preparing for her

second one. As a wedding planner, Sandra had always dealt with brides and wedding ceremonies; Maybe

that what made her connect in a way with Zelikha, but in a different context. Being zelikha was challenging

and provocative, Sandra had to plunge deep inside herself to be able to express Zelikha's feelings.

Khotoum Creative Team. Who is who

Ingez Crew Professional Technical Crew specialized in setting up performances, (Theater, Dance)

exhibitions, museums, and musical concerts. Ingz crew is a group of highly effective

members specialized in scenography ( lights, set and costumes), music, and video

Marwa MostafaGraphics Sr. Art Director

Graduated from Fine Arts University. Senior Art Director with an eye for innovation, perfection and well over 14

years of experience in the creative design field in multinational agencies and solid foundation of knowledge that

helps execute successful concepts and solve problems through design for international level clientele. Her great-

est expertise revolves in brand identity design, magazines and print collateral. Studying Traditional Arts | Interior

Design and wish to combine her knowledge and experience to deliver the best creative Artwork to audiences.

Khotoum Creative Team. Who is who