Love that never dies

and care that never ends

by Osama Ahmed

Mostafa holds an old photograph in his hands, reminding him of his late mother.

Every day, the house is alive with activity, surrounded by dozens of animals that gather at the door each morning to eat the food Mustafa prepared for them. Mustafa’s mother could never resist helping a hungry or neglected animal. Feeding them was an integral part of her daily routine. A routine that Mustafa inherited.

An old photograph from half a century ago shows Mostafa with a small cat climbing onto his shoulder in Al-Shallalat Garden in Alexandria, where he used to visit regularly to feed the pets and play with them.

Mostafa dedicated a special refrigerator to store food for the animals.

Mostafa cooks special meals for the animals every day with love, as if they were his own family.

Despite feeling tired at times and finding it difficult to go outside, Mostafa is committed to feeding the animals daily, choosing to do so from his window.

The cats wait below the house, looking up at Mostafa’s hand filled with food for them.

Man wearing glasses with an orange tabby cat draped over his shoulder and head.

A small cat plays on Mostafa’s shoulders, reflecting an atmosphere of spontaneous joy.

A woman who loves cats gifted Mostafa a collection of special photographs after being deeply moved by the care and attention he gives to the animals. She told him that these photos were the most precious things she owned and presented them to him as a token of her gratitude and appreciation for all he does for them.

Mostafa was keen on capturing his moments with the animals he fed in parks and public places, seeing photography as a way to preserve his memories with them. Driven by his great passion for photography, he would bring his personal photographer along on every visit, ensuring that each moment became an unforgettable image.

Dozens of cats gather daily in front of his house, awaiting his presence, which they have come to expect as part of their daily routine.

Bio

Osama Ashoush is a photographer and independent visual artist based in Alexandria. He began his photography journey in 2016. His work focuses on social issues and identity, exploring them through artistic practices and visual storytelling. In his projects, he strives to shed light on forgotten subjects that deserve to be told, blending a documentary sensibility with a human touch, as he not only captures the image but also seeks the story behind it.
‍
He has participated in several exhibitions and art workshops, including the “Folk Atlas” program and the “Raqouda” workshop. His works have also been exhibited at the American University in Cairo, and he participated in the Farouk Hosni Art Exhibition, among other art events in Egypt. He has received several awards, including first place in the Egyptian Press Competition and the Fuji Photography Award.

Osama Ashoush er fotograf og uafhængig visuel kunstner, der har base i Alexandria. Han begyndte sin fotografiske karriere i 2016. Hans arbejde er centreret omkring sociale problemstillinger og spørgsmål om identitet, som han undersøger gennem sit kunstneriske virke og visuel fortælling. I sit arbejde belyser oversete historier, der fortjener at blive fortalt. Han blander en dokumentarisk følsomhed med et menneskeligt nærvær: Han vil ikke blot tage et billede, men forstå historien bag.

Ashoush har deltaget i forskellige kunstworkshops blandt andet “Raqouda”-workshoppen. Hans værker har også været udstillet adskillige steder, blandt andet på American University i Cairo og til Farouk Hosni Art Exhibition samt andre kunstmesser i Egypten. Han har modtaget flere priser, herunder førstepladsen i Egyptian Press Competition og Fuji Photography Award.