The Estate of Chant Avedissian

Um Kalthum, 'The Star of the Orient', diva par excellence, who almost thirty years after her death is still number one in the charts, is given special prominence in Avedissian's work. As the most iconic figure in the Arab world, Kalthum was the artist's first stencil, followed by a series of more than 200 different monotypes in small format, which were later combined and superimposed on large panels in different permutations of background and colour. The icon of Um Kalthum speaks the language of the people, belongs to the people and it is part not only of Egypt but the Arab identity.