The Ship of Siwa

The second biennial Siwa Art Project set sail in October, 2005, when Russian-born artists Ilya and Emilia Kabakov created an ancient Egyptian sailing vessel in the name of art.  With the help of carpenters from the Manchester College of Arts and Technology who teamed up with Siwan children from surrounding schools, the group constructed the life-size Ship of Siwa out of reed and palm leaf and launched the floating art exhibit on Zeitoun Lake in Siwa. The children of the community played a prominent role in the boat’s creation by painting the patches of fabric that composed the sails with portraits of sailboats.  The event was organized by EQI with the Albion Gallery, London and the Society of Friends of Siwa.