by artist Mai El-Mostafa
Artist Statement: The beaver sculpture for Egypt is celebrating soccer’s biggest event in a full ancient Egyptian costume. A Decorative ancient Egyptian costume attached with colourful jewelries and hieroglyphic language. This whole vivid costume includes traditional elements such as the ‘Schenti’ (kilt) and the ‘Usekh’ (broad collar), alongside a majestic headpiece and intricate wrist jewelry. It’s inspired from ancient antiquities as sculptures, artifacts, kings’ clothes, tombs murals and mummies decorative cases’ color palette.
The design incorporates dominant symbols in ancient Egypt civilization that reflect power, authority, spirituality and renewal mythology, these symbols are considered the main tool to convey their beliefs in the past. Including the ‘Ankh’ (Key of Life) for life and eternal existence, the ‘Eye of Horus’ for royal protection and power, and the beaver holding the ‘Lotus flower’ which is a significant symbol in art as a reference of rebirth and the sun. Similarly, a ‘scarab’ is positioned on the beaver’s chest to offer protection against danger, Cartouche and wings (symbolize divine protection, and the power of sky deities). All these symbols give a powerful meaning carried by the Egyptian beaver sculpture.
Artist Bio: Mai El-Mostafa is a visual artist, muralist and researcher holding an MA in Applied Arts. She is deeply engaged in art and design in both academic study and art projects engagement. Her practice investigates storytelling across cultures, and historical narrative through theoretical and artistic aspects. Her work often involves community art projects and public engagement, with a particular emphasis on public art forms as Murals and installation. Since 2016, she has collaborated with many NGO’s, institutions and stakeholders across Egypt and US to deliver a group of large-scale outdoor projects, public exhibitions (group exhibitions) and Art workshops.
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