Biennale 2017 - Exhibition ‘eggstraordinaire’ |21 November 2017

Discover the beauty of egg art through a display of a very symbolic, fragile and delicate exhibition assembled by Indian sculptor Farha Sayeed.

The exhibition, which was officially opened on Friday by the Minister for Youth, Sports and Culture Mitcy Larue, is part of the Biennale 2017.

Present during the opening was the Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Pillay, Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine Maurice Loustau-Lalanne, Indian high commissioner Dr Ausaf Sayeed, members of the diplomatic corps, members of the Seychelles-India Friendship Association, members of the organising committee of the Biennale of contemporary arts of Seychelles, among members of the public and other guests.

It showcases eggs of ostrich, rhea, emu, goose among other birds including those of the sooty terns from Bird Island.

The exhibition, which will run until November 22 (tomorrow) from 9am to 5pm at the High Commission of India, was organised in collaboration with the culture department and the National Arts Council (Nac).

Minister Larue said the egg is a universal and self-explanatory symbol because it holds the seed from which all life begins.

“Mrs Sayeed creates each egg art piece with great precision and ingenuity, involving several man hours on intricate work. The resulting objets d’art are masterpieces which would lead the experts of art on a voyage into the realm of beauty and splendour,” she said.

Dr Sayeed said the Indian high commission will continue its efforts to further expand and strengthen the bilateral cultural cooperation between India and Seychelles.

Mrs Sayeed, who is the wife of Dr Sayeed, said she took a fascination to this unique art form 18 years ago.

“As a medium I found the egg shell to be very versatile, though challenging as it offers me a lot of flexibility. I can switch over easily from painting to carving to calligraphy to etching on the egg shell and the scope seems to be unlimited,” she said.

The chief executive of Nac, Jimmy Savy, said the Biennale theme asks what art can do in a world of crisis.

“Mrs Sayeed provides one answer - which is for artists to create beauty which is inspirational and moving, and which reaffirms the essence of our shared humanity,” he said.

Mrs Sayeed thanked the Nac, the special advisor for culture Emmanuel D’Offay and Biennale Commissioner Nigel Henri for their support in curating this exhibition.

University of Seychelles vice-chancellor Denis Hardy said the exhibition takes his breath away.

“The accuracy and precision is wonderful. When you think of an egg you don’t realise the number of combinations you can have to create a piece,” he said.

A Biennale artist from Zambia, Mulenga J. Mulenga, said it was her first time seeing egg art in real life as previously she had seen it in books and online, but she hopes to see more of this work to be practiced.

“This form of art is amazing although a lot of work is required. It’s very personal and romantic to mingle with because it gives you that fragile element of an egg,” she said.

Some of the art works in the exhibition