Expressive authenticity and symbols of cultural Identity in Nabil Wahba’s Artwork

This research examines the concept of expressive authenticity and the symbols of cultural identity in the artistic practice of the Egyptian painter Nabil Wahba, one of the most influential modern artists whose works are deeply rooted in the Arab national context. The study is based on the premise that authenticity emerges through a sincere interaction between the individual self and the collective environment, transforming personal experience into a shared visual narrative that reflects Arab collective memory.

Adopting a qualitative analytical approach—combining formal, symbolic, and contextual analysis—the research focuses on Wahba’s key works such as Sabra and Shatila (1983), The Veto (1987), and Elegy for Hatshepsut (1997). Findings reveal that Wahba developed a symbolic and expressive visual language through abstraction and the use of unconventional materials, such as gauze, which carries dual meanings of healing wounds and shrouding martyrs. This material and conceptual synthesis conveys both collective grief and resistance.

The study concludes that Wahba’s expressive authenticity is not a nostalgic return to heritage but a dynamic dialogue between memory and reality, individual creativity and collective belonging. Through this fusion, Wahba’s art exemplifies the role of authentic expression in articulating Arab identity, positioning artistic creation as both an aesthetic act and a form of cultural resistance that preserves historical and emotional continuity.