Travel back in time in Cairo with Mona Elzik '24 and her debut Arabic comic book that blends history and art
Elzik at CairoComix Festival, photo courtesy of Mona Elzik
In the busy corners of Cairo's historic Al Khalifa neighborhood, Mona Elzik '24 found inspiration for her debut Arabic comic book, The Adventures of Aisha and Shisha. A political science graduate with a specialization in public and international law and a double minor in economics and history, Elzik works as a full time consultant at CID Consulting and is also a self-taught artist.
The Adventures of Aisha and Shisha tells the story of teenage Aisha and her sidekick, a street cat named Shisha, on their time-traveling journey. They travel back across different eras -- from the Fatimids to the Mamluk dynasties -- to learn more about their culture and surroundings through a series of events that unfold.
Weaving history and art, the book highlights the significance and value of Cairo's cultural heritage. "I wanted to raise awareness of Egypt's architectural and cultural traditions and values and, more specifically, Al Khalifa, using humor and illustration," she says.
The idea for the story came to Elzik while taking a course, History of the City of Cairo, taught by Associate Professor Pascale Ghazaleh '93, '97. The course was a turning point for Elzik, especially after a field visit to Megawra, an NGO dedicated to architectural restoration and urban development based in Al Khalifa.
"I fell in love with the neighborhood and the effort that Megawra places into preserving the area and making it accessible for everyone," she says. "Its approach is not based on gentrification, where they cater to a specific class, but it is rather a community-driven effort to integrate the local community in the ongoing conservation."
Ghazaleh connected Elzik with Cairo-based publisher The 9th Art, while Megawra provided archival sources and AUC's School of Humanities and Social Sciences sponsored the project. The book was a success, appearing in the CairoComix Festival and the Cairo International Book Fair. Copies now sit in cultural hubs and bookstores like Cairopolitan, Diwan and El Balad.
Putting the Heart in Art
Aisha and Shisha isn't Elzik's first creative foray. "Growing up, I was always surrounded by art," she recalls. "My mother would always sketch original cartoon characters from her imagination on birthday and Christmas cards, little notes scattered around the house, refrigerator post-its -- you name it. Eventually I started picking up the brush and trying things out for myself."
Elzik was hooked, realizing that making art was her way of connecting with the world and herself. Today, she runs three Instagram accounts: one for her paintings, one for street photography and one for her tote bag and fashion business, which features her Cairo-inspired original sketches and designs. "The common theme across all of these accounts is that Cairo is my muse," she says.
Even as the city changes, Elzik keeps returning to the places that move her most -- especially Heliopolis, her favorite neighborhood and a recurring subject in her art. "A stroll through the narrow streets that branch out from Al-Ismailia Square is enough to cure my blues. A cup of coffee from Chantilly brings back a flood of childhood memories," she says. "To me, Heliopolis is both a place and a feeling. It's home."
As demanding as her full-time job can be, Elzik always tries to balance her time by devoting weekends to her artistic endeavors. "My typical weekend of making art includes these steps, which I follow religiously: Brewing a hot cup of coffee, playing a vinyl record and lighting up an incense stick," she says. "Only after I do these things can I start prepping my canvas and mixing my paints."
When Elzik is in the zone, all other tasks fall to the wayside. And she likes it that way. "Always make time for the things you love, regardless of the cost," she advises.
For Elzik, art isn't just a pastime; it's something she believes in. "Art should be accessible to everyone," she says. "If you are not doing something that fulfills your soul, then you are not doing anything at all."
-By Honey ElMoghazi