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Art project links Hyde Park to Cairo
It may be more than 2,000 miles away but the revolution in Egypt has been linked to the unrest in London through an innovative art project in Hyde Park, writes Sean Bourke.
The Learning Camp was set up to show the connections between recent events in Cairo's Tahrir Square, which was occupied by thousands of protesters earlier this year, to Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park, a historical place of public meetings and demonstrations.
Led by artist Susan Hefuna, the 'I Love Egypt, Speak Out!' project was a collaboration between the Serpentine Gallery in Kensington Gardens, pupils from Westminster Academy in Westbourne Green, and the Townhouse Gallery in Cairo.
The camp included seven tents designed by Ms Hefuna and made by traditional tent-makers in Egypt, which were inscribed with messages of hope, experiences from the recent revolution and personal statements from the people of Cairo.
During the two-day event, held on September 30 and October 1, members of the public could also take part in seminars, watch sound and video installations, see dance performances, and listen to talks and debates relating to personal experiences from Tahrir Square and the recent demonstrations in London.
Students from Westminster Academy were at the forefront of the event with dance performances, workshops on the major issues facing students and providing design ideas for the tents.
Westminster Academy pupil Ali Hassan Mohammed said the project had opened students' eyes to their own neighbourhood.
He added: "Normally students would be at home with their parents, playing computer games.
"The project makes you think about things other than your everyday life and we put these ideas into action.
"It feels like we're making a difference."
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:D thats me who said that :D