Summer 2026, CairoWorkshop
Blue Alchemy & Botanical Impressions: A 5-Day Cyanotype Workshop
Cyanotype / Blue Printing Workshop
Course details
- Cycle
- Summer 2026, Cairo
- Starts
- Saturday, Aug 22
- Meets
- Saturday, 18:00–22:00
- Length
- 5 sessions
- Format
- In person
- Taught in
- Arabic / English
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About the course
Over the course of 5 days, we will explore the cyanotype technique together: its history, its ancient uses, and consequently its evolution and creative potential in contemporary art.
We will reflect on the works of artists who have utilized this technique, pushing it far beyond the limitations of practical utility and the mere concept of printing and reproduction. Additionally, we will begin exploring its chemical nature together — how we can apply it independently in a safe yet creative manner to produce, within the scope of this workshop, 4 archival / aesthetic-quality artworks that merge digital photography, organic botanical forms, and simplified drawing!
Day 1 & Day 2 — The Vision & the Archive: exploring the history of printmaking and the work of master cyanotype artists to expand your visual vocabulary, with a dedicated “potential check” of your submitted photographs to ensure the best possible print results.
Day 3 & Day 4 — The Practical Alchemy: using your photographs (printed as digital negatives) and your curated collection of botanical greens to harness the sun — brushing, sensitizing and exposing your compositions to create four finished artworks, then exploring deconstruction and reconstruction / juxtaposition strategies for reimagining the work.
Day 5 — Reflection & the Pop-Up Exhibition: a day of reflection and refinement, preparing the artworks for display, and a celebratory Pop-Up Exhibition to share your four works and your impressions with the community.
Who teaches it
Aysha al-Hurr is a visual artist, poet, and researcher. She works across multiple media, including painting, printmaking, and short filmmaking. Her practice primarily revolves around experimentation and visual manipulation as strategies for constructing contemporary art. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Helwan University in 2025 and is currently pursuing her Master’s degree at the same institution. Additionally, she studied filmmaking at the Jesuit Film School in Cairo.
From the fellow Digital negative submission: upload two to four high-resolution photographs (JPEG/PNG) with your registration form. These will be printed on tracing paper for you.
Botanical collection: bring a selection of greens/flowers on the third day. For sharp silhouettes: press them 48 hours in advance. For ethereal textures: bring them fresh on Day 2.
Studio safety: cyanotype solution is a permanent pigment. Please wear studio-appropriate clothing or bring an apron — you can simply wear all black! All chemicals, glass, and specialty papers are provided.
Creative intent: briefly share — or at length, really — whether you have a specific theme or story you want your four artworks to tell.
To contact the artist conducting the workshop directly, email [email protected].
Course flow
August 2026
We begin by exploring the history of printmaking and the work of master cyanotype artists. This session is designed to expand your visual vocabulary.
We will conduct a dedicated “potential check” for your submitted photographs to ensure they are optimized for the best possible print results.
The hands-on process begins. Using your photographs (printed as digital negatives) and your curated collection of botanical greens, we will harness the sun: you will brush your papers, sensitize them, and expose your compositions. You can manipulate the size or the shape of the artwork as your vision develops, and choose four botanical works, four photography-based works, or a mix of both.
The exposures continue, and once the printing process is complete and the works have dried, we explore two strategies — deconstruction and reconstruction, and juxtaposition — for building and reimagining the artwork. An additional 45 minutes are set aside for brainstorming and proposing ideas on how to present the works on the fifth day.
After your prints have settled, we return for a day of reflection and refinement, adding final touches (within the scope of the workshop) and preparing the artworks for display. Those interested may write a text, poem, or reflection inspired by the printing experience or the story depicted in the artwork. The final hours transition into a celebratory Pop-Up Exhibition: your four works are displayed in the gallery space, to share your results and impressions with the community in a welcoming setting.
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18 October 2026
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