ISSA Egypt / Aswan: 30 Years

The 30th Aswan International Sculpture Symposium, marking the closing of the ISSA Egypt Station, has recently concluded. For three decades, the Aswan International Sculpture Symposium has been—and continues to be—a gathering point where the experience of sculptors from around the world meets the profound tradition of Aswan granite, in a shared pursuit of new artistic horizons.

Recently, the symposium received a record number of applications from local, regional, and international participants. This reflects growing interest in the program and confirms its position as one of the world’s leading events dedicated to granite sculpture.

The Aswan Symposium is not only a cultural and artistic forum; at its core, it is a space for human exchange. Here, creation becomes an artistic encounter among sculptors, a dialogue between human beings and stone, and a vivid link between our past and the present we are shaping.

The joint participation of Egyptian and international artists is an essential dimension of this experience. Their residency in Aswan brings not only technical expertise, but also deep perspectives and a sincere openness to collaboration. The results go beyond the finished sculptures themselves: they represent a shared process of respect, engagement, and creation—taking place in the same landscape and in direct relationship with the same stone.

Through this collective participation, the symposium once again reaffirms its nature as an open platform—a place where different artistic perspectives meet, interact, and leave a lasting imprint on the site and its evolving story.

Since its founding, the Aswan International Sculpture Symposium has remained committed to supporting the growth of a new generation of Egyptian sculptors through specialized granite-carving workshops. This commitment began at a time when granite carving was in decline, as many gravitated toward simpler, lower-cost materials—despite granite’s deep historical roots in Egypt.

Today, as the symposium reaches its 30th edition, we can trace its impact across generations of sculptors, many of whom are now active in academic and professional fields. This confirms the symposium’s role as a sustainable platform that not only preserves the art of granite sculpture, but also advances contemporary Egyptian sculpture.

Contributor: Akram El Magdoub, ISSA Egypt Committee Member

Editor-in-Chief: Liu Qin

English Editor: Sun Ya’nan

Legal Counsel: Tao Ran’ting