Bascota Exhibit Pays Homage to Iconic Egyptian Photojournalist
The exhibition brings photography and baking together to represent Egypt’s overlapping parallels in culture and craftsmanship.
Bascota, Egypt’s farm to table destination for all things baked, is hosting a photo gallery to pay homage to the late Omar Hegazy, one of Egypt’s most influential photojournalists to date. ‘Cairo– 12/04/1990’ is put on display in Bascota’s Living Room gallery at EDNC, the restaurant’s extension dedicated to showcasing Egypt’s photographers and the creative minds behind it in a more domestic setting.
The exhibition pays tribute to the legacy of Mohamed Hegazy, a photojournalist at Al-Ahram that covered Egypt’s diverse sectors of life, including sports, youth, arts and entertainment. Hegazy rose through the ranks of Al-Ahram from an internship in 1990, all the way to the position of Photography Department manager. The photojournalist did so all the while being Editor in Chief of Nefs El Dunia, a monthly women’s and political magazine.
Hegazy captured Egypt’s events and people of the 1990s. His portfolio is broad, to say the least. Some of his work include photographs of celebrities like Nour El Sherif, Mohamed Sobhy, a young Dr. Magdy Yacoub and Naguib Mahfouz. But many knew Sobhy for his street photography. The photojournalist seemed to have a fascination over Cairo’s dichotomy of chaos and simplicity, all of which helped shape the unique culture many people associate with Egypt today.
Hegazy passed away in 2020. His photos have since been displayed in exhibitions in Austria, Germany, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan through the efforts of his son, Aly Hegazy. His photos will also be for sale, although they will be showcased for a limited time before the collection changes.
Bascota offers artisanal baked goods, fresh juices, and sandwiches, all the while paying homage to Egypt’s traditional heritage through a farm to table practice. They consider themselves more than a brand, but rather, a platform for locals to come together to indulge into Egypt’s rich and extensive history and the people that help shape it - whether that history is expressed through bakery or photography.
Bascota was created by Amir Fayo, a known Egyptian brand architect based out of New York. Aside from Bascota, Fayo founded popular stores like Maison 69 and Maison Babushka. All of these stores operate under 69 Group, which Fayo founded to create immersive cultural retail spaces around the country.
