Exhibition Displays ‘Ugly Feelings’

by: Nada Hedia

Feelings of frustration and anxiety, ‘Ugly Feelings,’ are on display at the Townhouse Gallery in an exhibition that tries to express how Egyptians feel during the transitional phase.

“Ugly Feelings” is a personal narrative of curator Ania Szremski. The exhibition allowed her to take a step towards the problems faced by the institution and the people working in it.

The Townhouse feels an obligation to stay open and to provide a place to “gather and express [their visitors’] opinions,” said Szremski.

“I was surrounded with ugly, minor, feelings that as Egyptians we have been feeling on daily basis since the January 25 Revolution,” said Asaaf El-Boghdady, a spectator at the exhibition.

El-Boghdady added that she is grateful the chaotic revolutionary situation in Egypt for around three years now, resulted in “an explosion of creativity.”

‘Separation’ is one of the artworks shown at the gallery, a narrative by Annie Abrahams. It is a computer-based narrative where the words appear when users click.

Users are then asked to follow a couple of instructions that consist of physical exercises.

Afterwards, the spectator is meant to feel part of the pain the artist is feeling. The artist came up with the idea during her stay at the hospital.

Mohamed Talaia, an Architecture senior, described ‘Separation’ as an engaging piece.

He said the exhibition puts viewers in an uncomfortable zone, especially with the use of black and white.

‘’Ugly feelings is a conceptualized show that actually came to life from a conversation that has been going on in the Townhouse for this past year,’’ said Shehab Awad, the curator assistant, referring to the fact that they have not been functioning due to the “deep and extended [political] crisis.”

In Szremski’s introductory essay about the exhibition, she said that videos and Internet-based art are used in order to avoid costly charges such as printing or framing.

She added that it is a response to the state of helplessness amongst the Egyptian public.

‘’Not acting is not the answer, trying to make something out of it is,’’ said Awad.

The exhibition focuses on the uncomfortable and painful emotions that accompany people at times of instability.

All the presentations share a common theme: distressing images or works that create feelings of isolation and misinterpretations.

“Ugly feelings” will remain on display until Nov. 20.