Before starting his career as a visual artist, Ahmed Hefnawy worked as the art director and senior illustrator of a major advertising company. With experience ranging from Arabic calligraphy to oil and pastel painting, Hefnawy’s first major contribution as an artist was at an exhibition at the abandoned “Hotel Vienoise” in Cairo in December 2013. Joining Ganzeer, Hany Rashed and Ammar Abo Bakr for "K/harya", this self-organised group show played on the close proximity of the words "freedom" and "shit" in Arabic.
To the Back to (The) Square 1 exhibition Hefnawy brought a sculptural work Don’t be afraid of Gas. Drink to your health. This four-part installation represents tear gas in three-dimensional action, and quenches your thirst for power, perhaps.