eL Seed http://www.elseed-art.com Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:32:00 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 Pop!Tech 2011 – Camden http://www.elseed-art.com/poptech-2011-camden http://www.elseed-art.com/poptech-2011-camden#comments Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:23:25 +0000 eL Seed http://www.elseed-art.com/?p=573 Read more]]> In October I was invited to take part in the 2011 Poptech conference in Camden, Maine. I was invited to give a talk about my artistic philosophy and my artwork, and to paint a canvas live during the 3-day conference.

This years Poptech theme was ‘The World Rebalancing’, and so I chose to paint in Arabic a translated quote by scientist Albert Einstein: ‘give back at least what you received – كل ما هو فان يبقى’. In my opinion, balance is achieved by equally giving and taking – and this can apply to intellectual contributions, resource-extraction, human relationships and so on.

]]> http://www.elseed-art.com/poptech-2011-camden/feed 0 Hurouf Al Noor – حروف النور – Tashkeel Gallery | Dubai http://www.elseed-art.com/hurouf-al-noor-%d8%ad%d8%b1%d9%88%d9%81-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%86%d9%88%d8%b1-tashkeel-gallery-dubai http://www.elseed-art.com/hurouf-al-noor-%d8%ad%d8%b1%d9%88%d9%81-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%86%d9%88%d8%b1-tashkeel-gallery-dubai#comments Tue, 22 Nov 2011 15:43:24 +0000 eL Seed http://www.elseed-art.com/?p=540 Read more]]> ‘The works of Hurouf Al Noor (Letters of Light) present a wide range of creative approaches, which characterize contemporary Arabic calligraphy on both the visual and semantic levels. These works have been produced by five artists originating from diverse cultures across the Arab world. Each artist contributing to this group exhibition uses his personal taste, experience and technical skills in order to convey his message. Exhibiting artists are eL Seed from Tunisia, Khalifa Al Shimy from Egypt, Saleh Al Shukairi from the Sultanate of Oman, Majid Alyousef and Wissam Shawkat from Iraq.’ – Tashkeel | Dubai.

Besides the 3 canvas that I have showed, I have created a wood sculpture Calligraphy. “Seule l’éphémère dure – كل ما هو فان يبقى” is a quote by French-Romanian writer Eugene Ionesco. In English, this translates as ‘only the ephemeral remains’. Pass by something striking only once and you will remember it forever, pass an object everyday and you will never notice it. This is a common truth.

Working within this paradigm, graffiti artists paint walls knowing their work of art may not last long. In this spirit, I have tried to bring the essence of street art into the four walls of Tashkeel gallery. ‘Only the ephemeral remains’ will be destroyed once it has been displayed, but will the art work before you remain burned in your memory?

]]> http://www.elseed-art.com/hurouf-al-noor-%d8%ad%d8%b1%d9%88%d9%81-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%86%d9%88%d8%b1-tashkeel-gallery-dubai/feed 0 ‘This is just a phrase in Arabic’ – ما هذه الاّ جملة بالعربية – Los Angeles http://www.elseed-art.com/this-is-just-a-phrase-in-arabic-los-angeles http://www.elseed-art.com/this-is-just-a-phrase-in-arabic-los-angeles#comments Mon, 21 Nov 2011 17:51:35 +0000 eL Seed http://www.elseed-art.com/?p=514 Read more]]> A small social experiment, ‘This is just a phrase in Arabic’ tests the prejudice of the viewer. What do Arabic language and Arabic letters represent in North American mainstream culture? Are these letters strange and obscure, conjuring pictures of burning buildings and irrational extremists? This is a commentary on the fanfare surrounding Arabs, Persians, and Muslims in general. This experiment aims to measure how a simple, innocent phrase in Arabic is perceived through the lens of ordinary North Americans exposed to a stream of unconscious prejudice and derogatory stereotyping.

]]> http://www.elseed-art.com/this-is-just-a-phrase-in-arabic-los-angeles/feed 1 On the road to Damascus – على طريق دمشق http://www.elseed-art.com/on-the-road-to-damascus-%d8%b9%d9%84%d9%89-%d8%b7%d8%b1%d9%8a%d9%82-%d8%af%d9%85%d8%b4%d9%82 http://www.elseed-art.com/on-the-road-to-damascus-%d8%b9%d9%84%d9%89-%d8%b7%d8%b1%d9%8a%d9%82-%d8%af%d9%85%d8%b4%d9%82#comments Tue, 16 Aug 2011 06:20:32 +0000 eL Seed http://www.elseed-art.com/?p=493 Read more]]> The saying ‘On the road to Damascus’ notes a pivotal change in a person’s life or an important turning point in a people’s history. I chose to paint this phrase as part of my contribution to Montreal’s Fresh Paint Gallery exhibition,curated by Elise Luong. My latest exhibition series is inspired from the recent events that have taken place in my home country Tunisia, and also in the Arab World. ‘On the road to Damascus’ has a double meaning in this case: partly noting the unique moment in history we are all witnessing, and partly paying tribute to the struggle of the Syrian population. Alongside the mural, I donated one of my most recent pieces from my upcoming exhibition ‘Sajjal ana 3arabi’. The piece is also entitled ‘Sajjal ana 3arabi’.

Also contributing to this collective exhibition at Fresh Paint Gallery is Tunisian calligrapher Karim Jabbari who currently resides in Montreal. www.madefromwords.com

The exhibition will be open for five weeks until the end of September.

]]> http://www.elseed-art.com/on-the-road-to-damascus-%d8%b9%d9%84%d9%89-%d8%b7%d8%b1%d9%8a%d9%82-%d8%af%d9%85%d8%b4%d9%82/feed 5 Arabs agreed to disagree – اتفق العرب على أن لا يتفقوا http://www.elseed-art.com/arabs-agreed-to-disagree-%d8%a7%d8%aa%d9%81%d9%82-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b9%d8%b1%d8%a8-%d8%b9%d9%84%d9%89-%d8%a3%d9%86-%d9%84%d8%a7-%d9%8a%d8%aa%d9%81%d9%82%d9%88%d8%a7 http://www.elseed-art.com/arabs-agreed-to-disagree-%d8%a7%d8%aa%d9%81%d9%82-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b9%d8%b1%d8%a8-%d8%b9%d9%84%d9%89-%d8%a3%d9%86-%d9%84%d8%a7-%d9%8a%d8%aa%d9%81%d9%82%d9%88%d8%a7#comments Tue, 16 Aug 2011 06:07:57 +0000 eL Seed http://www.elseed-art.com/?p=484 Read more]]> The mural entitled ‘Arabs agree to disagree’ is a commentary on the ambiguity of the revolutions that have swept North Africa and the Middle East. Borrowing the words of Ibn Khaldun, Tunisian father of sociology, el Seed makes tribute to the Arabs who have ‘agreed to disagree’ on the conditions of their rule. However, the phrase has a double meaning. Khaldun also slyly comments on the nature of inner conflict present in many Arab societies. eL Seed thus also makes reference to the political disagreements now existing in Tunisia post-Ben Ali. The pointillism style used to create this mural, and the blurred effect this gives, mirrors the reality of revolutions around the world; they are neither clean nor clear.

http://www.muslimfest.com/

]]> http://www.elseed-art.com/arabs-agreed-to-disagree-%d8%a7%d8%aa%d9%81%d9%82-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b9%d8%b1%d8%a8-%d8%b9%d9%84%d9%89-%d8%a3%d9%86-%d9%84%d8%a7-%d9%8a%d8%aa%d9%81%d9%82%d9%88%d8%a7/feed 0 eL Seed’s limited edition t-shirts http://www.elseed-art.com/el-seeds-limited-edition-t-shirts http://www.elseed-art.com/el-seeds-limited-edition-t-shirts#comments Tue, 16 Aug 2011 05:55:49 +0000 eL Seed http://www.elseed-art.com/?p=477 I have launched my first collection of limited edition t-shirts. Comprised of three original designs, printed on different colors of soft organic cotton. Good for mind, body and spirit.

Get yours now – www.elseed-art.com/e-shop

]]> http://www.elseed-art.com/el-seeds-limited-edition-t-shirts/feed 0 Boulogne-Billancourt Mosque – Suburbs of Paris http://www.elseed-art.com/boulogne-billancourt-mosque-suburbs-of-paris http://www.elseed-art.com/boulogne-billancourt-mosque-suburbs-of-paris#comments Tue, 16 Aug 2011 05:43:58 +0000 eL Seed http://www.elseed-art.com/?p=467 Read more]]> Religious sayings, Qur’anic verses, or words associated with Islam are not what I usually paint on murals. That is, until the new mosque in my home town of Boulogne-Billancourt approached me to paint a wall in their prayer space. I grew up in this part of Paris and my discovery of Islam, the Arabic language, Graffiti, and Calligraphy all began here. It was a request I found impossible to turn down. The new mosque built in 2011 is modern and discreet so I opted for a Qur’anic verse with classic kufic letters using a soft golden yellow. Being a modern building, the kufic married perfectly with the angular design. I was honoured to be able to give back to the community that has given me so much over the years.

]]> http://www.elseed-art.com/boulogne-billancourt-mosque-suburbs-of-paris/feed 2 ISAPA: الجمود هو أعظم حركة للخط – Paris http://www.elseed-art.com/isapa-paris http://www.elseed-art.com/isapa-paris#comments Tue, 16 Aug 2011 05:31:17 +0000 eL Seed http://www.elseed-art.com/?p=457 Read more]]> ‘Immobility is the most beautiful movement of calligraphy” is a quote ‘borrowed’ from French illustrator Caran d’Ache. This was the phrase I decided to use for the International Symposium of Adapted Physical Activity. I was commissioned to paint a canvas live in front of participants and organizers: bringing something different from the streets for the youth and their parents. The event was held in celebration of a variety of handicapped sports offered to youth in the Parisian region. This event was very different from any other I have attended as a working artist and I feel very honoured to have been able to share my work in such an environment.

www.isapa.org

]]> http://www.elseed-art.com/isapa-paris/feed 0 Common Ground Gallery: Arabic Graffiti Book Launch – Berlin http://www.elseed-art.com/common-ground-gallery-arabic-graffiti-book-launch-berlin http://www.elseed-art.com/common-ground-gallery-arabic-graffiti-book-launch-berlin#comments Tue, 16 Aug 2011 05:11:44 +0000 eL Seed http://www.elseed-art.com/?p=446 Read more]]> The Common Ground Gallery in Berlin hosted the official book launch for the recently published ‘Arabic Graffiti’. Alongside the booklaunch, From Here To Fame organized a collective exhibition featuring several artists from the book itself. Among those present were myself, Zepha, l’Atlas, Mr Cana and Blouzaat Crew.

My excitement was amplified by the fact that Hassan Massoudy’s work was hanging on the same walls as my own pieces – such an honour. Another surprise was to meet French Graffiti artist Zepha again after thirteen years! Back in the day when I had just started experimenting with a spray can, Zepha painted a mural in my neighbourhood – he was the first real graffiti artist I had ever met. It was a real honour to see him again, still doing his thing, after so many years. My sejour in Berlin ended with a day of painting with Mr Cana – we each painted half a wall outside the Common Ground Gallery, a great way to end an incredible weekend.

]]> http://www.elseed-art.com/common-ground-gallery-arabic-graffiti-book-launch-berlin/feed 0 Ta’leef Mural – San Francisco http://www.elseed-art.com/taleef-mural-san-francisco http://www.elseed-art.com/taleef-mural-san-francisco#comments Sat, 11 Jun 2011 22:22:58 +0000 eL Seed http://www.elseed-art.com/?p=372 Read more]]> Classic kufic designs and modern creations the name interpret the name ‘Ta’leef’. This collection of calligraphic styles mirrors the amalgam of identities that create the rich and diverse community at Ta’leef. This project was envisioned and organized by Khadija O’Connell from Baraka Life, and would not have been possible without the enthusiasm and support of Usama Canon and the Ta’leef collective.

http://www.taleefcollective.org/

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