A touch of Egypt... To the ancient, fascinating culture, a blend of wisdom, mysteries, golden sands, and desert winds — in snow-covered Moscow — is incredible. But this very sense of mysterious allure arises when you meet this woman — delicate, vulnerable, and astonishingly beautiful, with a profile that resembles portraits of ancient Egyptian queens. Especially when you see her surrounded by the shimmering gold of the paintings she creates. Yet, when you begin to converse with her, it’s as if the fog lifts, and through the vibrant Eastern features, you discern the traits of a very Russian, gentle, poetic nature — an amazing combination that makes this young woman even more captivating. How was this blend born? What does it promise? In what form of creativity might such a personality manifest? I believe these questions arise in everyone who gets acquainted with Galla and her works.
Galla never ceases to amaze with her entire being, her creations, and her family history. And her family history is indeed unusual. Galla's parents are Egyptians: her father, a cinematographer; her mother, a ballerina. In their pursuit of art, these two people made an entirely free choice — they decided to live and work in Russia. It was here that their two daughters were born: Galla and Geba, two beautiful Egyptians with Russian souls, as they first visited their ancestral homeland as adults.
Geba became a ballerina and works at the Bolshoi Theatre, while Galla graduated from the Surikov Art Institute and became an artist. Later, not content with just one degree, she added a university diploma in psychology.
As a child, Galla dreamed of ballet, which perhaps explains its presence in her paintings — expressive gestures, the plasticity of figures, and a frank theatricality.
She admitted that for many years she didn’t turn to Egyptian themes in her art, but roots have powerful forces, and sooner or later, their influence manifests in the artist’s work, finding its form of existence on the canvas. Raised in Russia, on the traditional values of Russian visual art, at some point Galla discovered a resonance between ancient Russian icon painting and Egyptian symbolism, their graphic refinement.
Galla’s works combine seemingly incompatible elements: the static quality of ancient Egyptian frescoes and the realism of contemporary European painting, the ancient brilliance of gold and azure, and the modern relevance of yellow and blue, the temperament of the south and the restraint of the north. “Bride of the Nile,” “Attraction of Love,” “Reflection in the Mirror of Eternity,” “Lotus Girl,” “Conversation of Sisters” — all these paintings remind you of the Eternity of Beauty.
However, alongside Galla’s "ancient" Egyptian works, there are also modern, though still somewhat fantastical themes. “Underwater Secrets,” “Music of the Sun,” “Cats,” “Contemplation.” Even her portraits acquire a certain magical quality.
There is no need to summarize Galla Abdel Fattah’s artistic journey — she is at the beginning of her path. What’s important is this: her talent promises much that is new and unexpected, which aligns with her belonging to two of the greatest cultures.
Art critic: Olga Kulyasova