PERCEPTION

Through the tool of graffiti art and Arabic calligraphy, eL Seed is spreading the message of peace and unity. Different parts of the world and a variety of communities are brought to the forefront with the power of art, all whilst breaking down perceptions we may have of each other. By sharing and making his visuals for and with communities, the meaning of art takes on a significant emphasis showcasing perspectives and readdressing stereotypes. eL Seed’s art builds bridges, it is one of unification with a quest to expose the common traits humanity has with each other. In 2017, eL Seed won the UNESCO Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture and was named in 2016 a Global Thinker by Foreign Policy for his project ‘Perception’ in Cairo. His art has been on display in exhibitions and in public places such as on the façade of L’Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris, at LAZinc art gallery in London, in the favelas of Rio di Janeiro, on the DMZ in between North and South Korea and in the heart of Cairo’s garbage collectors neighbourhood amongst many other places. The evolution of the history of graffiti art and its growing popularity whether in what we term as the “West” or “East”, means public spaces reflecting societal messages through art can be reached by many more people. Democratising art is an important factor for eL Seed, he never signs his work, creating them for the people of the area he paints in.