Renowned for his treatment of the human figure, Adel El Siwi’s works are likewise narrative and iconic. The erectness of his figures stems from his observations of Pharaonic art, which at heart relies on the idea of permanence. Traces in Coptic and popular art and modern art are among his influences, as is the local environment. His heroes, like those of Mahmoud Said and Abdel al-Hadi al-Gazzar, possess an absence of celebration of the world and existence and are often wrapped in an inescapable sadness. The uncompromising use of paint on paper or canvas as a medium stems from El Siwi’s belief that the more limited the means the stronger the potential of the expression.