From Cairo to Leipzig. In the studio of the artist Mona Ragy Enayat.

Munich or Leipzig was the question when Mona Ragy Enayat was accepted for postgraduate studies in 1988. Previously, like many of her family, she had studied at Helwan University in Cairo. At only 22 years old, she received her degree in painting, art history and theater decoration. At that time, she was working at the Afro Asian Peoples' Solidarity Organization, through whose cooperation with the League for Friendship of Peoples (GDR) she received a scholarship to study abroad. She eventually decided to study painting, graphic arts and book illustration at the Academy of Fine Arts in Leipzig

The artist still lives and works in Leipzig today. In the video interview, she talks about her journey to the GDR, learning at the Academy of Fine Arts and the time during and after the so-called turnaround.

Paintings with generous shapes and surfaces in memorable colors decorate the artist's studio. Recurring motif of the paintings is the human being. Not infrequently accompanied by animals or motifs such as the Udjat eye and calligraphic elements, atmospheric compositions unfold. Enayat's artistic work is influenced by topics that surround and affect her. From the beginning of her time in Leipzig, the artist saw herself as a bridge of understanding between Egypt and the GDR/FRG. Today, she continues to address cultural diversity, whether in her visual art and poetic works, art education projects in schools, or her own music. As an artist, she sees herself in a position of socio-political responsibility and mediation and wants to move people. In addition to her artistic activities, Enayat is involved in the international women's movement.