By: Yomna Walid&nbsp;
From the ancient stones of Aswan to the modern facades of Egypt&rsquo;s cities, two artists are redefining how we see ourselves&mdash;one mural at a time. Life and creative partners, Maha Gamil and Ali Abdel Fattah are not just painting walls; they&rsquo;re curating a visual narrative of identity, memory, and belonging.
In this exclusive interview with NileFM, the award-winning duo reflects on the journey behind their mural project, which earned them Egypt&rsquo;s 2024 State Encouragement Award for Arts. With more than 15 years of experience, Maha and Ali use public walls as canvases for collective memory, celebrating heritage, identity, and civic pride.
Each of the four buildings they&rsquo;ve painted tells a distinct story. Here, they share the path that led them there.
Maha Gamil and Ali Abdel Fattah, visual artists from Aswan&mdash;and partners in both life and art, How do you each define your artistic identity?
Our creative vision is grounded in purpose. We aim to send meaningful messages to society and preserve Egyptian identity in a modern, relevant way.
For us, art is more than aesthetics. It&rsquo;s a language that beautifies, documents, and preserves visual memory for both places and people.
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How did your journey into mural art begin? Have you always worked as a team?
It all started during our university years, where we collaborated on creative coursework. In 2011, we painted our first mural&mdash;a face emerging from a wall&mdash;and realized the powerful impact of public art.
That experience revealed something deeper: a mural isn&rsquo;t just a painted surface; it&rsquo;s a dialogue with the community. Working together felt natural. We believe our collaboration creates a unique harmony in both style and concept.
Tell us about your personal story. How did your relationship evolve?
It developed gradually and genuinely. We began as classmates and connected through shared respect, ideas, and artistic vision. Over time, that bond grew into love and partnership.
Art was our first form of communication&mdash;even before words. Respect and love have always been central to our relationship, in life and in art.
What did it mean to win the 2024 State Encouragement Award for Arts?
It was an incredibly emotional and proud moment. Not only did it validate our work, but it also legitimized mural art as a powerful medium of expression.
We felt recognized not just as artists, but as storytellers of public space. The award added a new layer of responsibility&mdash;to keep going, to keep creating.
Did winning the award have an impact on your career or how others see your work?
Absolutely. People&rsquo;s perception shifted, particularly regarding mural art, which was often overlooked or undervalued.
We challenged narrow definitions of what murals could be. Now there&rsquo;s growing appreciation for the idea that a wall can be more than decorative&mdash;it can carry meaning, identity, and awareness.
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Is mural art becoming more accepted in Egypt, or does it still lack visibility?
Recognition is growing, but we&rsquo;re still at the beginning of that journey.
Egypt is visually rich, filled with stories, colors, and rhythms that deserve to be reflected in public spaces. Historically, murals documented life, history, and identity. We&rsquo;re continuing that tradition through a contemporary lens&mdash;but we need more support, more visibility, and more opportunities. Mural art can serve as a mirror for a city&rsquo;s soul.
As a married couple working together, how does your relationship influence your art? Do you ever disagree?
Our relationship creates space for creative dialogue. We each bring a different perspective, and that adds depth to the work.
Artistic tension doesn&rsquo;t become conflict&mdash;it becomes inspiration. For us, art is a bridge, not a battleground.
Why Aswan? What does it mean to you artistically? Do other cities need similar projects?
Aswan is where we come from. It holds history, nature, stories, faces, and traditions. It&rsquo;s our natural source of inspiration.
But every Egyptian city deserves its own visual storytelling. Cities are more than just buildings&mdash;they have identity. Art reveals that soul.
You worked on the &ldquo;Aswan Street&rdquo; mural, which features over 300 portraits of residents. How did the community respond?
The reaction was heartwarming. People felt genuinely seen. They recognized themselves on the walls and felt a new sense of belonging.
We heard things like, &ldquo;For the first time, this street feels like it&rsquo;s ours.&rdquo; That&rsquo;s exactly what we aim for&mdash;art that fosters connection and pride.
Why did you choose those four specific buildings for the mural?
We selected them for their prominent location on Aswan Street, leading to the international airport, and for the scale and layout of their facades.
Each building offered a different storytelling opportunity, and together they created a cohesive visual narrative.
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How do you determine the story each building will tell? Is it guided by the space, the people, or your ideas?
It&rsquo;s a combination of all three. The stories arise through interaction with the place and its community.
We conduct visual research, listen to local stories, and study the area&rsquo;s history and faces. We then translate that into art&mdash;documenting reality while adding a modern, artistic interpretation.
Your work blends Egyptian heritage with contemporary art. How does this affect public awareness?
Art changes how people see themselves. It evokes pride, reflection, and connection.
When a wall becomes a narrative, people feel part of it. The space transforms&mdash;it becomes significant.
That&rsquo;s how collective awareness is built: through beauty, storytelling, and a shared sense of identity.
Was there a special meaning behind the fourth mural&mdash;the one featuring a young girl facing the Nile?
Yes. That mural represents hope and continuity.
The girl symbolizes the future, looking ahead while standing in front of Egypt&rsquo;s ancient river. Her backdrop is filled with memory and tradition.
It&rsquo;s a reminder that the future is rooted in history&mdash;that tomorrow is built by honoring yesterday.
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How do you see mural art evolving in Egypt? Are there any young artists you find inspiring?
There&rsquo;s a beautiful shift happening. Young artists are experimenting, stepping out of fear, and exploring new territory.
What impresses us most isn&rsquo;t just technical skill, but vision. Artists who are honest and intentional in their work are the ones who leave a lasting impact.
What advice would you give to young artists starting in this field?
Study history. View heritage through an artist&rsquo;s eyes. Listen to people.
Experiment with materials. Start small&mdash;but make it meaningful.
A mural isn&rsquo;t just a large artwork; it&rsquo;s a responsibility. It&rsquo;s a dialogue. It&rsquo;s a vision.
Believe in your message. Respect the space. Respect the people.

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