Apep swallows the sun
I was an artist in residence at Doris McCarthy’s Fool’s Paradise between July and August, 2022. During which I learnt that McCarthy visited Egypt in the 1950s; I also learnt that McCarthy was rather fond of mystery books. Among my findings in Fool's Paradise was a book titled Egypt and its monuments by Robert Hichins published in 1908. In an attempt to connect my findings together with my own research, I created a fictional narrative while weaving in some truths.
Narration:
In December 1961 Doris McCarthy the owner of this beautiful place we are in today visited Egypt as she drifted through the mediterranean. During her visit and as she was walking down Talaat Harb square in downtown Cairo and across from the cafe Groppi, a coffee shop founded by a swiss in the late 19th century. She spotted the now famous Madbouly bookshop, it was less than a decade old then. McCarthy stepped inside the narrow entrance of the bookshop to a long store with many wonders to explore. Looking for a souvenir to remind her of this trip, she came across a book titled Egypt and its monuments by the English writer Robert Hichins. The owner Madbouly himself was in charge at the time and always present to help his customers. He knew everything about the books in his store, including a secret hidden inside this copy of Hichin’s book.
Madbouly saw that McCarthy was interested in the book, so he asked her the one question that would determine if she was to learn about the secret or not; he asked her where she was from. Hoping to hear the answer he was waiting for since he took possession of it, “I am from Canada” she said. With all the excitement in the world, Madbouly opened the book and handed over to her 2 unnumbered, detached pages. The first page contained a landscape drawing and the second was a text that was supposedly written by Hichins (available in the archives). He then told her about the Egyptian myth of the sun Bark, and how the soul was believed to die and travel through the night with the help of the Pharaoh represented as the Sun God Ra, and come back to life the next morning. But, it is said that one Bark broke that cycle and was lost in Foreign lands. According to Madbouly no one knew if this story was true or not, but he was told that the place where the sun bark ended was thought to be in Canada.
McCarthy, who was a lover of mystery stories, was instantly drawn into it. She chose to buy the book knowing very well that it may have been a hustle from the seller, but she was so drawn to the story that she decided to pursue it. McCarthy later on learnt that those mountains in the drawing were from the Scarborough bluffs. She then decided to make it her home in search of any clues. But, she died not knowing if she actually came across any clues or what they would even be.
Searching through her archives, I have managed to find some proof of the lost barge (bark). I also believe that this barge was the beginning of a long line of broken night trips and unsettled souls.
Narration:
In December 1961 Doris McCarthy the owner of this beautiful place we are in today visited Egypt as she drifted through the mediterranean. During her visit and as she was walking down Talaat Harb square in downtown Cairo and across from the cafe Groppi, a coffee shop founded by a swiss in the late 19th century. She spotted the now famous Madbouly bookshop, it was less than a decade old then. McCarthy stepped inside the narrow entrance of the bookshop to a long store with many wonders to explore. Looking for a souvenir to remind her of this trip, she came across a book titled Egypt and its monuments by the English writer Robert Hichins. The owner Madbouly himself was in charge at the time and always present to help his customers. He knew everything about the books in his store, including a secret hidden inside this copy of Hichin’s book.
Madbouly saw that McCarthy was interested in the book, so he asked her the one question that would determine if she was to learn about the secret or not; he asked her where she was from. Hoping to hear the answer he was waiting for since he took possession of it, “I am from Canada” she said. With all the excitement in the world, Madbouly opened the book and handed over to her 2 unnumbered, detached pages. The first page contained a landscape drawing and the second was a text that was supposedly written by Hichins (available in the archives). He then told her about the Egyptian myth of the sun Bark, and how the soul was believed to die and travel through the night with the help of the Pharaoh represented as the Sun God Ra, and come back to life the next morning. But, it is said that one Bark broke that cycle and was lost in Foreign lands. According to Madbouly no one knew if this story was true or not, but he was told that the place where the sun bark ended was thought to be in Canada.
McCarthy, who was a lover of mystery stories, was instantly drawn into it. She chose to buy the book knowing very well that it may have been a hustle from the seller, but she was so drawn to the story that she decided to pursue it. McCarthy later on learnt that those mountains in the drawing were from the Scarborough bluffs. She then decided to make it her home in search of any clues. But, she died not knowing if she actually came across any clues or what they would even be.
Searching through her archives, I have managed to find some proof of the lost barge (bark). I also believe that this barge was the beginning of a long line of broken night trips and unsettled souls.
