Interview with Ibrahim Hisham, Vice President of the Academy of Arts in Cairo

Since 2017, the Korean Culture and Information Service (KOCIS), which is under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, has been regularly hosting K-Fellowship, an event that brings to Korea prominent cultural and artistic figures from around the world. Ibrahim Hisham, Vice President of the Academy of Arts in Egypt, which is the only arts institution in the Middle East region, was in Korea as part of this year’s edition, which was held on June 16. Hisham, a renowned cinematographer who can direct documentaries as well as make commercials, also serves as a professor of theater and film studies at that school. He has also taken an active role in developing culture and arts in the Middle East by participating as an advisor in various cultural and artistic events within the country. During his stay, he visited the offices of the Korean Film Council and the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, and as a professor of arts in the Middle East, he was also invited to the Korean Academy of Film Arts and the Korea National University of Arts. Today we meet with him. 

What was the most impressive part during your visit to Korea?

The food left a strong impression on me. I was particularly surprised by "bok-guk", the swellfish soup. I had heard rumors about this fish carrying poison, but actually experiencing it was a truly unique experience.

What impression did you get from Korean culture?

To be quite honest with you, the Japanese and Chinese cultures were considered to be the two most significant Asian cultures in Egypt. However, over the last decade, Korean culture made its way into Egypt, and has since had a bigger effect than even Western culture. The youth in Egypt tend to prefer Korean arts over those from their own country. Everything I saw in Korea during my stay helps to explain the questions I had about this phenomenon. The answer appears to lie in the Korean people's expressions, behaviors and the way they consume food.

In Egypt, you have established a prosperous career as a filmmaker. What originally piqued your interest in filmmaking?

My late father had a job in the motion picture business. He influenced me to first study cinema at the Academy of Arts. When I was a freshman, I didn’t think that filmmaking fit with my life, but as time went on, my desire for filmmaking developed. Therefore, from even before I received my degree, I was already doing all kinds of jobs as long as they had something to do with visual media, which includes filmmaking. 

Was there a particular film that captured your attention you when you were a young film student?

Yes, it was Desmond Davis' 1981 movie Clash of the Titans. I used up all of my allowance at the time to see it on ever cinema screen in Egypt. Through this movie, I came to understand that movies could do more than just tell a tale; they could also have a profound cultural impact on a large audience. Egyptian film has greatly influence me as well. Did you know that Egypt has a film history that rivals Hollywood’s In length and richness? It first appeared in 1927, and it even marked a turning point in the development of cinema in the world. 

Is it difficult to juggle your responsibilities as the Vice President of the Academy of Arts with your profession as a cinematographer?

To properly communicate to my pupils the experiences I have gained over my work as a cinematographer is the task I firmly feel God has given me. I've authored six books so far, and most Middle Eastern institutions utilize them as textbooks for cinema majors. I hope to write more books in the future to contribute to the development of Egyptian film culture. Beyond teaching, making art feel more accessible to the Egyptian people is just as important to me is. That's why I'm also in charge of programing shows and films at Cairo Opera House and various cinemas in Egypt throughout the year. I've recently been quite interested in raising cultural awareness among the whole society. The Middle East as a whole is now embracing Egyptians' love of culture. For instance, a seasonal festival is held every year in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. Many individuals are working hard to turn it into a global event, and more than 90% of the participants in this festival are Egyptian artists.

Hollywood movies, rather than Egyptian ones, are usually the way audiences throughout the world first learn about Egyptian culture. What do you think of the way Egyptian culture is portrayed in Hollywood blockbusters? Do you think they sometimes overgeneralize or stereotype things?

Egypt is not what I would call a developed country, but ours is a developing nation that is always changing for the better. However, Egypt continues to be portrayed in American movies as a country that lags behind in terms of development. This issue is deeply ingrained in American cinema. They still portray China and Russia as nations that pose a danger to their peace and depict France as a country with outdated ideas of civic awareness. I was once asked by an American on a trip to the United States: "Do Egyptians still use camels to transport goods?" If you are a cultural powerhouse that has such an influence on culture around the globe, shouldn’t you learn to treat other countries' cultures with respect and accept them just as you do your own? 

And yet, sometimes actors of Egyptian descent, such as Omar Sharif and Mena Massoud, have gained international fame.

Omar Sharif did indeed become well-known around the world, but he did so in a very American-centric way. Sharif does not merit nearly as much attention as other performers in Egyptian cinema history. You wouldn't believe how important actors like Mahmoud Morsi, Mahmoud El-Meliguy, Faten Hamama, and Soad Hosny were. Egypt has a notably strong accent compared to other Arab nations. However, thanks to their extensive work, the Egyptian accent is now understood throughout the Middle East just as well as a standardized language.

How do you want this visit to be remembered both in Egypt and Korea?

I intend to include several aspects of Korean culture in my lectures when I return to Egypt. There was a student in my office when I got the phone call inviting me to this visit. After the call, the student asked me if I was going to Korea. When I said I would, word of my visit quickly spread across the lecture room during the following class and in no time the whole school got wind of it. Almost every student asked me, "Can you take me with you to Korea?" (laughs) I hope that Korea and Egypt can forge a solid relationship for ongoing cultural exchange. The Minister of Culture in Egypt is also paying close attention to this visit.