In his first solo exhibition, Alexandria-based visual artist Hady El Boraey seeks to understand man’s fascination behind what lies beyond one’s borders. Challenging the mindset that the only solution for a better life requires a physical migration, Boraey questions the power of the psychological borders within our minds. With a distinctive painting technique and a thrilling imagination, Boraey has created a rich and textured world of fantasy depicting the illusion of another better life that could be had, by simply crossing the border – be it physical or psychological.

1. HADYBORAEYBEYONDBORDERS11-28March2014

2. 11 - 24 March 2014
Cairo - Egypt
BEYOND BORDERS
HADY BORAEY
11 - 28 March 2014
Cairo - Egypt
BEYOND BORDERS
HADY BORAEY

3. oes the universe have a border? And
if it does, what does this borderline
separate us from? Why does the
other side of the fence always seem
greener? Why are millions of young
Egyptians dreaming of crossing their
borders even if it means risking their lives? Web-
ster dictionary defines the word border as “a line
separating one country from another or as a
boundary between places”, implying knowledge
of what lies beyond. Since we first looked at the
stars, humans have been fascinated by the mys-
teries of what lies beyond the unknown borders.
“Where there be dragons” and “Terra Incognita”
for example were terms used by ancient Roman
and medieval cartographers to indicate unknown
or unexplored territories on a map. Today, these
words have disappeared from maps as men
have explored seas and continents. Yet the ap-
peal and illusion arising from the unknown persist.
In his first solo exhibition, Alexandria-based visual
artist Hady Boraey seeks to understand man's
fascination behind what lies beyond one's bor-
ders. Challenging the mindset that the only solu-
tion for a better life requires a physical migration,
Boraey questions the power of the psychological
borders within our minds.
With a distinctive painting technique and a thrilling
imagination, Boraey has created a rich and tex-
tured world of fantasy depicting the illusion of an-
other better life that could be had, by simply cross-
ing the border – be it physical or psychological.
Metaphorically and symbolically, he takes us on a
poetic and dramatic journey to discover the tempt-
ing yet scary unknown and to open new horizons.
And while the mystery of what lies beyond the bor-
ders of the earth is grand and captivating, Boraey
uses the edge of the earth as a metaphor to high-
light the mental struggle to find a way to belong.
The obsession and hope of many young Egyptians
to cross the borders of their own country to go set-
tle somewhere “where the grass looks greener” is
but one way. For Boraey, Beyond Borders doesn't
necessarily mean more planets or far away lands,
but rather, a symbol of the relentless pursuit of hap-
piness and the persistence of our youth to dream
of a better life. This could in the end lead to a with-
drawal from one's society into a utopian secluded
community to achieve a sense of belonging.
In a world with rising violence, racism and wars,
Hady Boraey offers a wake up a call that what is
beyond our border – be it our country, city, neigh-
borhood or simply inside each one of us, may in fact
be similar to what lies inside that very border we so
seek to leave – that we are one and the same, that
here and there, there is love and pain; there is hope
and despair; a sense of attachment or loneliness.
After all, the grass may not be much greener on the
other side of the fence once we free our mind and
we may be better off taking care of our own grass.
D
Where The Grass Looks Greener
BY Fatenn Mostafa, Founder

4. Selected Exhibitions
2014 Workshop - Image of the world - Atelier Alexandria
2014 Group exhibition - Ajenda - Bibliotheca Alexandrina
2014 International group exhibition - points 2 - Goethe Institute - Alexandria
2013 Group exhibition - Peace Day Festival - Darb 1718 - Cairo
2013 Group exhibition PRO ART institute Dubai- United Arab Emirates
2013 Beirut art fair - Lebanon
2013 Solo exhibition - Abu Dhabi Art Hub, Abu Dhabi - United Arab Emirates
2013 Abu Dhabi Art Hub institute residency program - United Arab Emirates
2013 Group exhibition - Art Talks Egypt - Cairo
2013 Group exhibition - Salon of youth - Atelier Alexandria
2013 Group exhibition - 1st Plastic arts competition - Elhorya Centre for creative arts – Alexandrina
2013 Group exhibition – Small Artworks - Sakyet el sawy – Cairo
2013 Annual salon of Atelier Alexandria
2013 Group exhibition - Ajenda - Bibliotheca Alexandrina
2013 Group exhibition - Graphics Now - Elhorya Centre for creative arts – Alexandrina
2013 Group exhibition - Hagar Project - Darb 1718 - Cairo
Biography
Born 1984, Beheira, Egypt
Lives and works in Alexandria
2013 PhD, Faculty of Fine Arts, the University of Alexandria
2011 MFA, Faculty of Fine Arts, the University of Alexandria
2005 BFA, Faculty of Fine Arts, the University of Alexandria

5. 2012 Annual salon of Atelier Alexandria
2012 Exhibition - 18 days revolution - at sakyet el sawy - Cairo
2012 International exhibition of Cairo books - Cairo
2012 Aaw international workshop – Goethe Institute Alexandria
2012 Exhibition - Arab Spring Revolutions - bibliotheca Alexandria
2012 Exhibition - Salon of youth - Atelier Alexandria
2012 International biennale for artist's book - Bibliotheca Alexandria
2012 Exhibition - Ajenda - Bibliotheca Alexandrina
2012 Solo exhibition - On Wood - elhorya centre for creative arts – Alexandrina
2012 Workshop - Hagar Project - darb 1718 institute – Cairo
2011 Exhibition - 100% Egiziano - Egyptian Cultural Office Rome- Italy
2011 Solo exhibition - Main hall of the faculty of fine arts - Alexandrina
2011 Exhibition - Ajenda - Bibliotheca Alexandrina
2011 Exhibition - First Time - Bibliotheca Alexandria
2011 Exhibition - XV Biennale de la Mediterranée - Greece
2011 Exhibition - Salon of youth xxii - Cairo
2011 International exhibition - Digitals & printmaking - Atelier Alexandrina
2011 Exhibition - Ajenda - Bibliotheca Alexandrina
2011 Workshop - La Forma - colective book - Italy
2011 Exhibition - Art work for every home - degas art gallery - Alexandria
2010 Exhibition - Mahmoud Saeed Museum
2010 Workshop - Print making at academia de bella arte - Italy
2010 Participated - artist : Hassan Khan - in intaglio processes exhibition - Switzerland
2010 Exhibition - Triple Graphics - Egyptian Cultural Office Rome - Italy
2009 Port Saeed Benaly - Egypt
2009 Exhibition on Egyptian culture office in Rome – Italy
2009 International workshop of print making - Alexandira
2009 Exhibition salon kharef - Egypt

6. 6
Waiting Knowing She Will Never Come | Oil on Wood | Dimensions: 122 x 61 cm

7. 7
When We Were Living by the Sea | Oil on Wood | Dimensions: 122 x 61 cm

8. 8
Field of Vision | Oil on Wood | Dimensions: 80 x 80 cm

9. 9
Pilgrim | Oil on Wood | Dimensions: 80 x 80 cm

10. 10
The Far Purple Earth | Oil on Wood | Dimensions: 60 x 60 cm

11. 11
The Lucky Green Dress | Oil on Wood | Dimensions: 60 x 60 cm

12. 12
Shoreline I | Oil on Wood | Dimensions: 100 x 57 cm

13. 13
Shoreline II | Oil on Wood | Dimensions: 100 x 57 cm

14. 14
Going on the Road Again I | Oil on Wood | Dimensions: 122 x 61 cm

15. 15
Going on the Road Again II | Oil on Wood | Dimensions: 122 x 61 cm

16. 16
Little Bird's Nest
Oil on Wood | Dimensions: 122 x 61 cm
The Cat's House
Oil on Wood | Dimensions: 122 x 61 cm

17. 17
The Girl on the Red Bicycle
Oil on Wood | Dimensions: 122 x 61 cm
Driving Astray
Oil on Wood | Dimensions: 122 x 61 cm

18. 18
The Settlers I | Oil on Canvas | Dimensions: 52 x 35 cm

19. 19
The Settlers II | Oil on Canvas | Dimensions: 52 x 35 cm

20. 20
Wed Until Tomorrow I
Oil on Canvas | Dimensions: 61 x 118 cm

21. 21
Wed Until Tomorrow II
Oil on Canvas | Dimensions: 61 x 118 cm

22. 22
At the Borders of the Unknown I
Oil on Wood | Dimensions: 20 x 53 cm

23. 23
At the Borders of the Unknown II
Oil on Wood | Dimensions: 20 x 53 cm

24. 24
I Love You | Acrylic, colored pencils on canvas | Dimensions: 70 x 70 cm

25. 25
Wait, Meet, Kiss | Oil on Wood | Dimensions: 12.5 x 12.5 cm

26. 26
The Coincidence | Oil on Wood | Dimensions: 122 x 61 cm

27. 27
Frozen in Time | Oil on Wood | Dimensions: 122 x 61 cm

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29. ArtTalks | Education & Exhibition Space
8 El Kamel Mohamed Street, Zamalek, Cairo, Egypt
+20227363948 +201005550585
info@arttalks.org www.arttalks.com
ArtTalks | Modern & Contemporary Art Gallery
8 El Kamel Mohamed Street, Zamalek, Cairo, Egypt
+20227363948 +201005550585
info@arttalks.com www.arttalks.com