VOA标准英语2010年-Egyptian Artist Uses Microscopic Piece

A New Exhibit at Cairo's Opera House highlights the work of Egyptian Saad Romany Mikhaiel. The 52-year-old uses miniature pieces of glass, stone and other materials to create intricately detailed¹ mosaics³ that he hopes will inspire both the public and other artists.

 

Saad Romany Mikhaiel peers through a large magnifying glass in his studio.  With the focus and patience of a surgeon, the bearded Egyptian artist delicately places a small piece of stained glass in the face of one of his portraits.

Staring through the magnifying glass, Mikhaiel makes sure that all of the pieces - called tessarae - are exactly where they are supposed to be.  The result is a powerful portrait of a bearded man in formal Arabic dress.

After graduating with a degree in fine arts, Mikhaiel worked as a jeweler and interior designer for several years.  He used that experience to combine jewelry⁴ design and traditional mosaic² techniques to create stunning⁵ portraits.

His works, called micro mosaics, include portraits of actor Omar Sharif, Britain's Queen Elizabeth, Egyptian Novelist Naguib Mahfouz, American television host Oprah Winfrey, and Cleopatra.  Mikhaiel has also done a version of Vincent Van Gogh's Starry⁶ Night.

 

Mikhaiel has created 39 works for this exhibit.  The artist says he hopes his work will inspire others who are interested in mosaics. "I would like to send a message to all people who love this art," he said.  "I am offering all of my efforts to build a base for all people who are interested in this art, and for artists who can work in this art field."

Some of the best mosaics in Egypt date to ancient Rome, but the art form was used in the jewelry set of the Pharoah Tutankhamun. Examples from the Byzantine Empire are considered the best of their kind.

The art form reached its height during the Renaissance⁷, when micro-mosaics were created for St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City because traditional altar paintings were decaying from humidity and other environmental factors.

Though he could sell his works - Mikhaiel has not done so, for now. The artist says he doesn't want them hidden from the public.

"As I said before, my main goal is to send out a message," he said.  "I don't want any of my works to be bought by a collector and be put in a house or in a palace and disappear as mere⁸ possessions. 

Fayza Abdel Monem is the general manager of the Opera House museums and Exhibitions.  She says she is proud that the first micro-mosaic exhibit in Cairo features an Egyptian artist.

"As an Egyptian, I'm very proud to find an Egyptian artist doing art work like this, working with this integrity and perseverance⁹. I'm very proud of him, and the Opera house is very pleased with this exhibition," she said. "I can see in the visitors' eyes how impressed they are with Saad Romany. I salute¹⁰ him and wish him all the best."

The exhibition is only the first of Mikhaiel's efforts to highlight the art form.  He is scheduled to give a lecture on micro mosaics in London in October.

 

1 detailed   

adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的

参考例句：

• He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
• A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。

2 mosaic   

n./adj.镶嵌细工的，镶嵌工艺品的，嵌花式的

参考例句：

• The sky this morning is a mosaic of blue and white.今天早上的天空是幅蓝白相间的画面。
• The image mosaic is a troublesome work.图象镶嵌是个麻烦的工作。

3 mosaics   

n.马赛克( mosaic的名词复数 )；镶嵌；镶嵌工艺；镶嵌图案

参考例句：

• The panel shows marked similarities with mosaics found elsewhere. 这块嵌板和在其他地方找到的镶嵌图案有明显的相似之处。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The unsullied and shining floor was paved with white mosaics. 干净明亮的地上镶嵌着白色图案。 来自辞典例句

4 jewelry   

n.（jewllery）（总称）珠宝

参考例句：

• The burglars walked off with all my jewelry.夜盗偷走了我的全部珠宝。
• Jewelry and lace are mostly feminine belongings.珠宝和花边多数是女性用品。

5 stunning   

adj.极好的；使人晕倒的

参考例句：

• His plays are distinguished only by their stunning mediocrity.他的戏剧与众不同之处就是平凡得出奇。
• The finished effect was absolutely stunning.完工后的效果非常美。

6 starry   

adj.星光照耀的, 闪亮的

参考例句：

• He looked at the starry heavens.他瞧着布满星星的天空。
• I like the starry winter sky.我喜欢这满天星斗的冬夜。

7 renaissance   

n.复活，复兴，文艺复兴

参考例句：

• The Renaissance was an epoch of unparalleled cultural achievement.文艺复兴是一个文化上取得空前成就的时代。
• The theme of the conference is renaissance Europe.大会的主题是文艺复兴时期的欧洲。

8 mere   

adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过

参考例句：

• That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
• It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。

9 perseverance   

n.坚持不懈，不屈不挠

参考例句：

• It may take some perseverance to find the right people.要找到合适的人也许需要有点锲而不舍的精神。
• Perseverance leads to success.有恒心就能胜利。

10 salute   

vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮

参考例句：

• Merchant ships salute each other by dipping the flag.商船互相点旗致敬。
• The Japanese women salute the people with formal bows in welcome.这些日本妇女以正式的鞠躬向人们施礼以示欢迎。