Cavafy Archive and the Onassis Library at the 53rd Cairo International Book Fair
26.01–07.02.2022
On the occasion of the 53rd edition of the Cairo International Book Fair, the Onassis Foundation will be at Egypt’s International Exhibition Center through until February 7, 2022 to present a special tribute to the work of C. P. Cavafy that includes a series of specially-selected videos, the Cavafy Archive Digital Collection, the poet’s handwriting digitized in the form of a typeface, and video animations by the internationally acclaimed animator Andreas Karaoulanis that breathe new life into his poems. The Onassis Library will also be presenting the children’s book “Little Rigas and the Secret Symbols of the Charta” at the fair.
With Greece as guest country of honor, the largest and oldest book fair in the Arab world – organized by the General Egyptian Book Organization – is being held in Cairo for yet another year, this time with the participation of 1,200 publishers from 125 countries. The 53rd edition of the Cairo International Book Fair is a major opportunity for an Arab-speaking readership to become better acquainted with Greek literary output (both classic and contemporary) and its creators.
The Book Fair
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Little Rigas – now seeking out the secrets of the Charta in Cairo
Visitors to the Greek pavilion will have the opportunity to discover various aspects of contemporary publishing in Greece, and Greek culture more broadly thanks to a range of books it will present on select topics. Among them is the children’s book “Little Rigas and the Secret Symbols of the Charta” created by the writer, illustrator and performer Lida Varvarousi and the Onassis Library. The landmark map of the Modern Greek Enlightenment and Greek cartography is unveiled in all its glory in this illustrated book for children that seeks to unravel its secrets.
Four poems by C. P. Cavafy – filled with new life – ring out in the Egyptian capital
The Onassis Foundation presents – in partnership with the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports and the Hellenic Foundation for Culture – a tribute to C. P. Cavafy that includes a series of specially-selected videos, the Cavafy Archive Digital Collection, the handwriting of C. P. Cavafy digitized in the form of a typeface, and four video animations by the internationally acclaimed animator Andreas Karaoulanis that breathe new life into four of his poems – “Remember, Body…”, “The Windows”, “The City”, and “Since Nine O’Clock” – recited by Greek rapper Saske.
The Cavafy Archive
C. P. Cavafy gathered and arranged his output with great care, thus creating a unique literary and personal archive. The Cavafy Archive was acquired by the Onassis Foundation at the end of 2012, thus averting the threat of its dissolution and dispersal, and ensuring the entire collection remained in Greece. Our mission has always been to provide free and open access to both researchers and the general public, and to further promote the internationally relevant work of this poet from Alexandria. The Cavafy Archive consists of poems written in Cavafy’s own hand along with makeshift printed pamphlets, prose literary texts, articles, studies, and notes written by the poet, as well as his rich personal archive of correspondence, texts, and photographs, all available as part of the Cavafy Archive Digital Collection.
