Calligraffiti is a mix of Arabic Calligraphy and Graffiti and the dude behind it is a great Tunisian (French-born) artist called eL Seed.
eL Seed’s art adorns walls across every continent. Weaving together traditions from differing artistic spheres, eL Seed is known for his symphonies of colours and shapes. Classic wild style graffiti techniques spell out letters from the Arabic alphabet, which eL Seed skillfully sculpts into breathtaking artistic creations. Difficult to decipher, each composition calls not only on the words and their meaning, but also on their movement, to lure the viewer into a different state of mind. Working primarily with subjects that seem contradictory, eL Seed’s art reflects the reality of our human condition.
[My Name Is Palestine]
His art is a mixture of street art and Arabic Calligraphy. It is the product of a double marginality, that of an oriental art seeking a voice in the occidental world, and that of street art struggling to legitimize its presence on the contemporary art scene. This duality enables the reconciling of two supposedly opposing worlds and two supposedly clashing cultures.
eL Seed no longer tags his name on walls. He has decided to adopt a proverbial tradition in which the name disappears and only the message remains. Therefore, rather than searching for what distinguishes him from others, eL Seed searches for what unites him and others. His art is a link, an arm outstretched, a bridge towards those who are open to his message.
El-Seed finds what unites him with other artists through his work. This thought complements how Nuqat believes in connecting and collaborating. His principals go hand in hand with Nuqat values to create change.
Kairouan: a new ‘Revolution’
The mural project in Kairouan, Tunisia was mobilized and organized by a group called El Khaldounia, based out of the capital Tunis. The project entailed the painting of a 40m x 7m wall positioned just beyond the turrets of the old Medina in Kairouan (place of cultural and artistic innovation since the first Islamic Empires.)
The participants had spontaneously asked to take part in the project taking place in their town. Local Government and administrative entities, along with various community leaders, along with the Tunisian public, worked cooperatively hand-in-hand to realize this innovative idea. Itself a mini cultural revolution, the art project was the first of its kind in Tunisia, in both scale and style, in its effort to democratize art and cultural events. Rooted within the philosophy of participatory democracy, the mural creation – the logistics, art work, and physical labour – offered an outlet for local residents and provided a window into what could possibly be the future of Tunisia as a cultural and artistic hotspot.
Love you Mum
eL Seed’s Eid gift to his hometown Gabes – Minaret of Jara Mosque
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