“Controversy Surrounding Graphic Designer Ghada Wali and Stolen Art Accusations”

02:10 PM

Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Books – Abdullah Owais:

During a televised interview, and as part of her defense of accusations against her of stealing the works of the Russian artist Georgi Kwarsov, graphic designer Ghada Wali justified, with differences between her designs and Kwarsov’s designs, in one of the works, that her model includes a “bird”, while the work of the Russian artist does not carry one, to begin with. A wave of sarcasm and anger.

Ghada Wali’s story began with the Russian artist Georgi Kawarsov, in July 2022, when he accused her of stealing four paintings from his works, and using them to design the murals of the Girls’ College metro station. Its respect for intellectual property, whether it is art in Egypt or outside Egypt.

But the controversy returned to the confrontation, with the Russian artist accusing the graphic designer of stealing his paintings in designing a soft drink, inspired by Egyptian heritage and history. This was within the framework of a publicity campaign for a soda water company, and the photos at the time in 2018 were widely celebrated, as the design extends to the ancient Egyptian civilization.

Wali considered that her silence on the first accusation prompted the Russian artist, Georgy Quarsov, to persist and distribute the accusations again, according to her statement, within the framework of “Trend and gaining fame by accusing her from time to time without providing evidence of that.” Wally described Kurusov’s accusations as false.

This was before Ghada Wali appeared, in an interview with the journalist Amr Adib, to refute the accusations against her, and deal with them all, in the absence of an expert or specialist who explains the matter and the truth of its circumstances. In that interview, the “bird” that appeared in Ghada Wali’s work was mentioned on the metro mural before it was removed, but the bird that Wali referred to was the embodiment of “the god Horus.”

Horus is one of the most important and oldest ancient Egyptian deities as well. He has several statues of different sizes that take the form of a falcon, and symbolizes him as the avenger of the oppressed and the victor of truth, justice and goodness. It appeared in many papyri, murals, and temples that documented the life and history of the ancient Egyptian. Even the Eye of Horus was used as amulets for protection.

The “bird” talk was a subject of ridicule on social media. Many considered this to be ignorance of an ancient history that is not appropriate. Some began to publish details about Horus, and about ancient Egyptian history, considering that considering him a bird is inconsistent with the old advertising campaign for soft drinks inspired by ancient Egyptian history and civilization.

The matter turned into “memes”, in terms that combine sarcasm and anger, and the re-publishing of Wali’s words, when Amr Adib likened a drawing of her to an ancient Egyptian and a Russian artist, and she said that there are differences, “I have a crown that I wear, I don’t wear it..and I have a bird in it and he doesn’t have it.” sparrow ». Although days have passed since that interview, the conversation about “Wali and her bird” is still going on.