The Cache 2013

Alaa Awad created this mural titled "The Cache," and it is concerned with cultural heritage and national identity. The mural features stylized figures reminiscent of ancient Egyptian art, combined with contemporary imagery. It seems to ask: what is the role of a historic inheritance in the present? Awad makes meaning by drawing on both ancient visual codes and the contemporary social context of Egypt. The figures in the mural evoke the art of pharaonic Egypt, but they are rendered in a modern, almost street-art style. This juxtaposition of old and new suggests a dialogue between Egypt's rich past and its current socio-political realities. The inclusion of women as central figures challenges traditional representations and highlights the role of women in shaping Egyptian identity. Understanding this piece requires historical and cultural research. We might consider the history of Egyptian art, from its ancient forms to its modern manifestations, and it also begs the question: who gets to decide what the national story looks like?