Facebook–Napoleon@2011
Nine photos in size of 60X45 cm, digital print on acids-free matt paper, three signed copies, Cairo / Manama.
Background
The Series focused on the Egyptian situation between 25 January 2011 and the end of 30 June 2013, i.e., the Muslim Brotherhood era. It shows from the first days of Dr. Mohamed Morsi how radical and incapable they are of governing the country. For more than one year, Egypt has suffered from wrong economic, cultural, and political decisions. On 11 February 2011, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak handed power to the Supreme Council for the Armed Forces. It was expected from the “Arabic spring” to embody a new liberal renaissance in the orthodox regions – of course, with the help of the army. But unfortunately, after a short period, the well-organized radical Islamic forces reaped the fruits of the “Arabic spring.” They wanted to “re-Islamize” the country with their fascist values and beliefs.
The young Egyptians, who had done the first action, and were active in the streets from the 25th, and had done hundreds of protests and sit-ins in various Egyptian towns, couldn’t succeed in finding political leaders to represent them, and this led to their lost by all political battles.
From all happenings until today, the most positive thing left is the resistance of most Egyptians and the judicial bodies, army, and media against the radical Islamists. Therefore the Series Facebook-Napoleon focuses on the post-revolution period till 30 June 2013. It reflects the existence of unexpected and unacceptable violence and overreacted police reactions or Muslim Brotherhood and their supporter’s acts against civilians and peaceful protesters- of course, the response of the police was done with a direct order from the regime of the Muslim Brotherhood.
Finally, the Series invites everyone who loves Egypt to stand against what is happening now by avoiding plans to divide society into Muslim and Christ, Muslim Shia, Muslim Sunhat, Muslim Brotherhood, and non-Muslim brotherhood.
Mohamed Morsi /the fake Napoleon
Ironically the painting “Napoleon Crossing the Alps,” painted by the romantic artist Jacques-Louis David (1805), has been used in all the images as if Napoleon is telling us about what happened and how it happened recently in Egypt. Napoleon or the “virtual leader” indicates two different meanings: A) Symbolize the “fake” power of the Arabic spring; B) Embodied the unknown forces that stand behind this unknown NEW-OLD WESTERN-ARABIC leader!
The original meaning or function of the painting, which was a part of Napoleon’s propaganda to contribute to his rise to power, legitimate his regime, and establish his image for posterity, has been used as it is. The propaganda scheme aims to portray the fake Napoleon as triumphant and the new powerful man of Egypt.
The Series shows how the fake Napoleon succeeded with his group in creating a negative national impact award them and an uncomfortable atmosphere in Egyptian society. Their daily bases hunger to control every strategic position in the country and isolating all other political forces were the main factors behind creating a form of civil rebellion. The fanatics and the bloody radical thinking were reflected in their dirty games of controlling the simple religious Egyptians.
Symbols and meanings
The sum of all used signs could be considered an invitation to everyone who loves Egypt to think carefully about our Arab national security. It is an invitation to stand against the desires of many Western regimes (especially Obama’s regime) to control Egypt and the Middle East countries through Islamic religious fascism.
facebook@2011-1 “Freedom”
At the beginning of the 25 January revolution, all the Egyptians stand beside each other against Mubarak’s regime. Right radical Muslims – even Jihadi-, Christ orthodox, Sunni, Baha’i, and Shia Muslims had only a great aim and dream: FREEDOM.
Young Muslim graffitists wrote on the walls in the middle of Cairo in a very crowded place: All of us are Martyr “Mina Denial” (Christ name). Besides this graffiti, we can find another drawing with a shouting mummy: Every year, we will develop. No one (before Mohamed Morsi) thought of removing a Christ name or pictures from the walls.
facebook@2011-2 “Maspiro Martyrs”
On October 2011 demonstrate, a peacefully considerable number of Egyptians in front of the Maspiro television building – a group predominated by Egyptian Copts – in reaction to the demolition of a church in Upper Egypt claimed it was built without an appropriate license. The protesters who intended to stage a sit-in in front of the Government TV building were attacked by security forces and the army, resulting in 28 deaths, mainly among the Coptic protestors, and 212 injuries, most of which were sustained by Copts.