Inji Efflatoun: The Poetics of Justice

This special presentation, curated by Gilane Tawadros and Salah M. Hassan, marks the first significant UK exhibition of Inji Efflatoun (1924 – 1989 Cairo, Egypt), one of the most important Egyptian artists of the twentieth century. A feminist and political dissident, Efflatoun regarded art as a powerful tool for social justice and political expression and her activism and artistic practice were deeply entwined. Born into an affluent Cairo family in 1924, Efflatoun rejected the privileges of her upbringing and became deeply involved in politics from an early age, having been introduced to Marxism while still at school. Efflatoun started painting while young, and from the age of fifteen, studied under the revolutionary artist and filmmaker Kamel El-Telmissany – one of the founders of the radical left-wing Egyptian Surrealists movement, 'Art et Liberté', which she later joined. Throughout her life, Efflatoun was highly active in anti-colonial movements against Egypt's occupation by Britain, advocated passionately for Egyptian women's rights and campaigned for the rights of ordinary working people. In 1959, because of her political affiliations, Efflatoun was imprisoned by the Nasser regime and remained incarcerated for more than four years. Despite severe restrictions, she continued to paint in prison. The landscapes and studies she produced during this period are among the most celebrated works of her career and transformed her approach to light, colour and technique. Weaving together the artistic, personal and political Inji Efflatoun: The Poetics of Justice traces the trajectory of Efflatoun's simultaneous development as an artist and political activist across five decades. It brings together key works from across her career, including the acclaimed series made while she was imprisoned, alongside drawings and rare archival documents and photographs. Together they provide a fascinating insight into Efflatoun's life and career during a key period in Egypt's transition from British occupation to independence and post-independence. Inji Efflatoun: The Poetics of Justice is presented in partnership with the Sharjah Art Museum and Global Studies University, Sharjah, UAE.