Tunisian street artist and calligrapher El Seed has been travelling around the world to draw on different walls across every continent. His work incorporates both calligraphy and graffiti where he sites different Arabic poets as inspiration for his work.
The 32-year-old artist has a Master’s Degree in business. “ I left the business world because I felt useless doing what I used to do and turned to my passion which was art,” he said.
El Seed is now coming to Jeddah to make his mark on one of the building in downtown Jeddah, which will be done on the Feb.1 to mark the beginning of Jeddah Art Week, JAW.
What is it about Art that first attracted you?
Ever since I was a young boy I was always drawing and sketching. I always wanted to be an animation artist but in the late 90’s I discovered graffiti and pop culture and I fell in love it. In 2000 I started taking Arabic lessons and that’s when I discovered the Arabic calligraphy and later I combined both and made it my own style using both arts.
What does Graffiti and Calligraphy mean to you?
It is a form of art that helped me express myself in a very artistic way. I was born and raised in France and at some point in my life I wanted to get back to my roots and learn my language so I enrolled in Arabic language classes. I fell in love with the writing and enjoyed forming it and now when I paint I feel in the right place at the right time.
You coined the word Calligraffiti, what does that mean?
This is not true; I never came up with this word even though many think I did. Calligraffiti is a form of art that started in the late 70’s and it combines both graffiti and calligraphy in one piece. It’s a work Jeffer Deitch came up in the 80’s in New York and people started using it for this art.
What inspires you when you’re working on a new piece?
I am always inspired. It depends on the moment, the place and my mood. Many things motivate me to create pieces and there is not one thing that inspires me to work. People might think that certain poets inspire me but that’s not true, I also use different poetry pieces from different Arab poets because I try to make my work relevant to the place.
What has been so far your biggest achievement?
I am very proud of all my work. The painting I did on Jara Mosque in Gabes, Tunisia is the closest to my heart because it’s my own town. Everything was crazy about it from the size of the building to the idea itself.
Tell us about your collaboration with Louis Vuitton?
They approached me in Montreal and informed me that they liked my work and wanted me to collaborate with them to create art pieces on their scarfs. There was a collection called Foulard’s d’artistes and they asked six artists to design something and I was the only Arab. I was the first Arab artist to design something for LV and I am very honored. I loved the fact that they gave me the liberty to do whatever I wanted and never limited me with anything.
You have worked on different walls across the world, where do you want to work next?
I want to work on the moon. I want to go beyond the sky and why not do that. People ask me sometimes where is my dream spot and I don’t have one and I am already living my dream.
Do you have any preferred surfaces?
I am a street artist. I love walls and buildings, I aim to bring art to people and I want to be accessible for everyone who passes by.
You are coming to Jeddah to participate in Jeddah Art Week, JAW. What are you preparing for us?
It is surprise and I am looking forward to this because it will be my first piece in Saudi Arabia. I am going to use the help of five Saudi street artists to help me with it, I want to inspire them to go bigger and I want to tutor them and this is my way to giving back to the community. This is to me is more interesting that the project itself which is involving people into my art by filling the color and so on.
What inspired your JAW piece?
I really don’t know yet, it is a surprise. I’m not sure yet I didn’t decide which quote of poetry so I have to see the building and feel it first and that’s when I get inspired.
We understand this is not your first trip to KSA, but this is the first time you will be producing your work officially. What attracts you to Saudi Arabia?
It is the central place in the GCC area and I am always attracted to the Arab world and Saudi is really moving into the street art and there is a lot going on in the art scene and I want to be part of it.
What do you think of the street art scene in Saudi Arabia?
Its good I like the way it’s promoted. There is an initiative to embrace it and you see people are starting to accept it as a real form of art.
Tell us about your experience of bringing five Saudi streets artists to Paris.
There was a project where we tried to create the biggest street art located in a huge a building and each apartment should be painted with a certain art. One apartment for Italian, one for Polish, one for Portuguese and so on. I talked to my friend in Jeddah and we started putting a plan and we got them to Paris and we worked together and we enjoyed it very much.
Does practicing art in the streets of the Arab world have a different flavor to western public spaces?
It much easier in the Arab world for example in Tunisia I would knock on someone’s door and ask them if I could paint on their walls they would always accept it. They appreciate it and it makes the street attractive, you speak to the people with your art and it is beautiful.
Do you prefer working alone or with others?
It depends, in my own world I try to convey a message to connect with people and meet them. Sometimes people talk to you and ask you questions about your work and I’m always happy to explain about calligraffiti.
Do you have any other passions?
Cooking by far is one of the greatest things to me. It brings back memories of my mother and I think I’m a good cook and my favorite cuisine is the Tunisian using my mother’s recipes.
What do you see as the future of graffiti?
Graffiti street art is the longest art movement and there is no other art movement that will last as much as it does. Its has been there for more than 40 years even though there is no academic education needed for it you just do it from your heart. It is powerful.
What are the other projects you will be working on in 2014?
I’m soon going to launch my book where I will share my project that I did last summer where I did a road trip in Tunisia and I visited small towns where people don’t know about art. It has been one of the most amazing experiences I ever had in my life.
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