An Egyptian in Paris

Tated in a Parisian café.
George bahgory is every bit the showman-artist as several Arabs from Saudi Arabia approach to greet him as if they were long-lost fiends, asking him for his autograph.
Widely known across the Arab world, George Bahgory is given a grilling as to why he’s no longer producing their favourite political cartoons, for which he has been famous for four decades.

Born in Luxor, Egypt, in 1932, Bahgory has lived in Paris for the last 35 years and relishes his role as the granddaddy of Egyptian caricature.
Suitably attired to match the stereotypical left bank Paris artist, Bahgory smokes thin-rolled cigarettes while lambasting his homeland’s attitudes towards artists and modern art.”
My country never understands…never admit [you] as great artist.
You must in a group like them, they don’t like it if you’re different and they’re jealous when you win a prize in London or tome or Paris.”

Bahgory says that he came to Paris to escape,” to be free to express myself.”
Not one to be shy about his own talents, Bahgory believes he is one of Egypt’s best artists “if not the best” he adds.
He believes in taking risks, in breaking with old, tired ideas: “I took a risk in continuing to be in an ambitious frame”

“Other artists of my generation, “Bahgory continues, “are day artists…They repeat the same work day after day and they don’t do research.
They don’t experiment and continue to live a normal life.
I don’t want a normal life, not in my art.

“My life”, he continues, “is just a kind of revolution in myself, in my art, in my creation.
I became a sculptor by my self…I became a writer.
I tried all kinds of art- only in cinema I failed…I’m a very bad actor. “
Not that you would think so, as you watch him perform with itinerant admire who walk in on the conversation, or charm the pretty waitress with his Parisian artist persona.

“I’m an observer.
I’ve got 500 carnets des voyages [sketchbook diaries] fully written.
My life in Paris has changed me.
“Picasso is Bahgory’s idol and inspiration, and his own paintings and pencil drawings bear a striking resemblance to Picasso’s work.

“I read once, “Bahgory said, “that he [Picasso] didn’t want to stay with his painter friends.
He decided to stay with writers and thinkers like [jean] Cocteau and [max] lacob.
This gave him inspiration for more distinguished works.
Jacob once told him: ‘Pablo you’re good in Egyptian style…stay in this style. ‘
Those big eyes and profiles…pity that Picasso didn’t visit Egypt. He only looked at Egyptian art in the Louvre’s pavillon d’Egypt. My research here is because I wanted to continue his art as a true Egyptian. I feel very near to the creative resources of Egyptian art.”

Bahgory is a Coptic Christian from Fayoun, a small Nile delta town with a majority population of Copts who originally moved there to escape roman persecution of early Christians.
Married with no children, he draws a great deal of inspiration from Coptic art, especially the faces of dead people painted on their tombs by early artists.

“I’m a Copt who reads the Koran…I think it is the wisest book in history.
I’m religious in my spirit in my but I don’t go to church or mosque,” Bahgory says of his faith.

“When I paint or draw I feel like I am with God.
That’s my faith and religion.
I don’t waste my time praying like my people.
My people [Egyptian] don’t want to work, that’s why they pray all the time.”

Bahgory has had his fair share of trouble with the authorities in Cairo in his 72-year life. “
I started work at the time of Nasser.
I love Nasser but I always made cartoons about him and they always tell me he laughed at them.
But Sadat was very angry and he forbid me to come to Egypt under threats…I criticized him very much, especially at time of [Egypt/Israel] peace.
Mubarak gives ‘vitrine’ [display] democracy for show and it is not true.”

Bahgory spends half the year in Paris and the rest in Egypt.
“I feel like I’m on holiday when I draw…I especially like drawing erotic and beautiful women. “He says with boyish mischief.
“I sell all my work in Egypt. But only sell a few in Paris.”
Bahgory is disappointed and confused about the lack of success and recognition he has received in Europe.
Whilst he has won many national prizes and several international awards. He has not had major international exhibition.

However, that has not shaken his self-confidence.
He declares himself to be the master of caricature in the Arab world, his cartoons having appeared in the Al Ahram weekly over several decades.
“I’m the original of all styles in all the Arab world, “ he states in the same breath as he hails the assassinated Palestinian, Nagi Al Ali, as the best cartoonist in the region.
“The best Egyptian cartoonest, “he continues, “was Salah Jahine [decreased] but I don’t believe in continuing my styles in cartoons, I prefer to do my paintings as they’re in galleries and museums, While cartoons are only for newspapers.

“My dreams, “Bahgory laments, “Is to be international…to become known in contemporary art. But I have not succeeded in Europe.
Maybe after I die…I will leave some magnificent work in my studio in Every [France] when I go. But I fear life will be terrible as I don’t have anybody to leave my work to.”