Exhibition
Brushstrokes of Arab Cinema: A Century Unveiled is an exhibition showcasing the lost art of painted Arab film posters, offering a rare glimpse into the visual and cultural legacy of Arab cinema across the 20th century.
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I’m thrilled to announce Brushstrokes of Arab Cinema: A Century Unveiled, an exhibition that brings the lost art of painted Arab film posters back into the spotlight.
For much of the 20th century, these posters weren’t just marketing tools—they were cultural artifacts, capturing the essence of Arab cinema and the societal shifts that shaped it. This exhibition is a celebration of that legacy, featuring 40 meticulously curated posters spanning from the 1930s to the 1990s, sourced from Egypt, Lebanon, and Syria.
This project is deeply personal. As a designer, cinephile, and collector, I’ve spent 15 years restoring and preserving these works, driven by a love for the stories they tell—not just about films but about Arab culture, resilience, and artistry. Growing up in Australia with Lebanese roots, these posters connected me to a world my family left behind, offering glimpses into a cinematic golden age that has been largely forgotten.
Visitors will journey through six decades of Arab cinema, experiencing the evolution of poster artistry—from the hand-painted lithographs of the 1930s to the striking collages of the 1990s. Along the way, they’ll encounter some of the biggest names in Arab film history, including Mohammed Abdel Wahab, Umm Kulthum, Farid al-Atrash, Abdel Halim Hafez, Omar Sharif, Fairuz, and Sabah.
These posters tell stories beyond the films they represent—they reflect the political, social, and artistic revolutions that shaped the Arab world. This isn’t just an exhibition of beautiful posters. It’s a tribute to a lost art form, a testament to the power of cinema in shaping cultural identity, and a reminder of the creative forces that continue to inspire today’s Arab filmmakers.
Join me on this visual journey through time and cinema. Brushstrokes of Arab Cinema: A Century Unveiled is not just about preserving the past—it’s about rediscovering it.
