Egyptian writer Mahmoud al Najjar has wrapped up his series Ana Min Thahab (I am Made of Gold) which tackles the career of the Egyptian late sculptor Mahmoud Mukhtar (1888-1934), according to the daily al Hayat.
Costarring in the series are Khaled al Nabawi, Hala Shiha, Mohammed Nagati and Hani Salameh. The 23-episode series is about the life history of the Egyptian sculptor Mahmoud Mukhtar since he was born in the village of Tanbara in Dakahliyyah district where his talent emerged through the clay statues he used to make during childhood before he moved to Cairo.
Mukhtar was the first student in the school of fine arts which was established by prince Yousef Kamal in 1908 to witness all pioneers who established the fine arts movements in Egypt including Mohammed Hasan, Yousef Kamel, Ragheb Ayyad, Ahmed Sabriand Anthony Hajjar.
After graduation from the school of Fine Arts, Mukhtar was sent on a scholarship to Paris where he excelled and secured a first class French medallion as an exceptional case because such medallion is usually given to French nationals only. When he returned to Egypt, he faced difficulties caused by the ruling power represented by King Fuad.
Despite that, he insisted on completing his project for making the Egyptian renaissance statue. He made statues for the late renowned national Egyptian leader Saad Zaghlool whom he met in France. The first statue was erected at Qasr al Nile Bridge and the second at al Raml Station in Alexandria.
He also made a statue for the late Egyptian singer Umm Kulthoom and many other statues, which his museum at al Gazeera Land in Cairo houses.
The series is anticipated to shed light on the Egyptian art movement and the other Egyptian prominent artists who enriched the cultural life in Egypt -- Albawaba.com
