In collaboration with the Czech Centres, Embassy of the Czech Republic in Cairo and the Prague-based MeetFactory, Shelter Art Space in Alexandria presented the exhibition HAVEN, a collective artistic residency led by Czech Artist-in-Residence František Felix.
The exhibition opened with public events on Friday and Saturday, March 21 and 22, 2025, and featured works by a diverse group of artists including Tiana Kader, Kirollos George, Zeina ElDanasoury, Anežka Felix, Hassan Ghonim, Antonín Brinda, Dennis Farnsworth, Omnia Najm, and many others.
The residency of Czech artist František Felix took place in Shelter Art Space in February and March 2025. Felix comments on his residency project HAVEN:
"At its heart, HAVEN seeks to reimagine the space between artist and viewer. Rather than presenting finished works for passive observation, the project invites the public into a shared creative space – one of participation, dialogue, and transformation. During the residency, artists and visitors alike were encouraged to take part in the evolving exhibition, blurring the boundaries between creation and reception."
Project HAVEN included below-listed activities (16-20 March 2025):
Workshop & Iftar: Finding a Home for the Fat Lady by Tiana Kader
This interactive workshop explored themes of home and belonging through drawing, movement, and collaborative play. Led by French-Malagasy artist Tiana Kader, participants were brought to imagine drawing as a shared experience and challenge the formal boundaries of the gallery space.
Workshop & Iftar: Alexandria Forever with Kirollos George & Zeina ElDanasoury
An immersive evening of photography, animation, and storytelling. The program featured Kirollos George’s animated reflections on memory and place, alongside Zeina ElDanasoury’s photographic portraits of Alexandria. Together, the artists invited the audience to reimagine their own memories of the city.
Workshop: Silent Gestures with Antonín Brinda
Czech artist Antonín Brinda led a participatory exploration of human gestures – from the ceremonial to the subconscious. The session invites participants to reflect on the performative power of the body and its potential for shared expression in public spaces.
Workshop & Iftar: Shoebox Magazine at Shelter with Dennis Farnsworth & Omnia Najm
An open-format literary evening centering around Shoebox Magazine, founded in 2023 as an inclusive platform for literature and visual culture. The event included poetry readings, writing sessions, and discussions that bridge personal and collective narratives.
Workshop & Iftar: Unraveling the Greenhouse Within by Omnia Najm
A sensory storytelling and expressive writing session led by multidisciplinary artist Omnia Najm. Participants shared food and personal stories around a handmade communal table, using writing to explore themes of growth, transformation, and release.
About the Residency
The Haven exhibition is part of a broader collaboration between Shelter Art Space, the Czech Centres, and MeetFactory Prague, fostering international cultural exchange through immersive residencies. Through this program, artists from Czechia and Egypt engage in a shared creative process, strengthening cross-cultural dialogue and artistic collaboration.
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