The General Union of Egyptian Writers mourns Samy Mohamed with a cultural evening
The External Relations Committee of the General Syndicate of the Egyptian Writers’ Union, chaired by Dr. Bassim Abdulazim, hosted a rich cultural and artistic evening under the patronage of the Syndicate’s President, Dr. Alaa Abdulhadi. The event honored a prominent Arab visual artist, reflecting the Committee’s cultural role in strengthening ties between Egypt and Arab creators. Titled “Sami Muhammad: Between Genius and Creativity,” the evening paid tribute and offered condolences to the late Kuwaiti visual artist and sculptor Sami Muhammad, one of the leading pioneers of the visual and sculptural arts in Kuwait and the Arab world.
During the symposium, Dr. Salam reviewed the late artist’s career and creative journey, as well as his human relationships with artists from various Arab countries. He highlighted Sami Muhammad’s clear commitment to humanitarian causes, which was reflected in his sculptural and visual works, alongside his dedication to preserving Kuwaiti and Arab heritage.
For her part, Khalf stated that the late artist was among the first artists to devote themselves entirely to the Free Studio, which represented for him a genuine space for work, experimentation, and creativity. It was in this environment that his artistic experience began to crystallize and his unique vision in sculpture evolved, eventually establishing his name among the prominent figures in Kuwaiti and Arab art. What distinguished Sami Muhammad’s work was that the human being was always at the heart of his creations—depicting humanity in its strength and weakness, in its suffering and its quest for freedom and dignity. Consequently, his sculptures were not merely aesthetic forms; they carried profound humanistic messages and stances.
In this context, potter Ali Al-Awad discussed the late Sami Muhammad’s rich artistic journey, recalling the many years that bound them through a deep human and artistic relationship forged through collaboration and continuous meetings. Among the memories etched in his mind was his acquisition of a book published by Sami Muhammad in 1994, in which the late artist inscribed a deeply significant dedication, entrusting him with the responsibility of pottery and predicting that he would become a distinguished potter in the future.
Al-Awad noted that these words revealed a facet of Sami Muhammad’s character: his remarkable ability to recognize talent and foresee the future of artists he saw as exceptional, and his consistent encouragement of them.
He also recalled three pieces of advice he retained from the late artist: developing one’s artistic vision, engaging in extensive viewing and reading, and visiting exhibitions.
It is worth noting that the second part of the evening was dedicated by the External Relations Committee to honoring Professor Mustafa Atiyya Jumaa, a professor of Arabic literature, rhetoric, and literary criticism at the Islamic University in the United States and a professor of graduate studies at the American Open University. The tribute coincided with the publication of his book, “The Arab Novel: Issues of Humanity and Identity – The Rural-Urban Dilemma as a Model,” which won the Egyptian Writers’ Union Award for 2026.
