Koshary Min Zamman

2008

Koshary Min Zamman is a mixed-media installation which is based on

notions of social class and the whimsical nature of international politics.

It premiered in solo exhibition in 2006 at the Townhouse Gallery in Cairo

and was performed again in 2008, as part of the Gallery’s participation in

the partnership Museum As Hub at the New Museum in New York.

Koshary is a traditional Egyptian dish made up of pasta, rice, lentils and

onions. The low cost of production has made this meal a staple diet of the

lower classes. Because it is primarily made up of carbohydrates, Koshery

rapidly sates the appetite of the consumer, but leaves him lethargic and

listless almost immediately after eating.

The reference to Min Zamman in the title of the work is two fold. Its direct

translation is from the past which refers to times of old and established

tradition. As such, it is reflective of the international portrayal of Egypt

as a treasure trove of ancient history. Min Zamman is also Egyptian street

slang and means the man. The phrase emphasizes the local familiarity and

dependability of the product while hinting at the perceived patriarchal

nature of Middle Eastern society.

Walk into any koshary restaurant and you are certain to find photographs

of the owner’s family members on the wall and stacks of disposable plastic

bowls emblazoned with the restaurant’s logo for serving the food. In his

installation Koshary Min Zamman, Ayman Ramadan sets up a mock koshary

shop and serves the meal to his audience in his own custom-made

disposable tubs. A central feature of the installation is that, rather than

decorating his shop with pictures of his relatives, Ramadan displays photos

of various political figures taken during inter-government meetings, peace

talks and during publicity shoots. They are shown to be indulging in his

own brand of koshary, Min Zamman. The politicians seem to be quite smug

about their achievements – but do their big words have a similar effect as

the koshary they’ve eaten?

Koshary Min Zamman has been performed and exhibited both at the Townhouse Gallery in Cairo and at the New Museum in New York.