“I’m not perfect and I know that,” he admits.
Last week, he officially launched his third book, “Qeel Wa Radadtu” (Said and I replied) in Jeddah after its opening at the ongoing Beirut Book Fair 2011.
Born in Makkah in 1969, the longing to seek his inner self allowed him to undertake studies in philosophy. After years of medical studies that were renounced mid-way, he found himself yearning with the need for greater self- expression that he found in painting when penning down words simply did not suffice.
In 2003, SAaD published the book “Ana…!” (Me…!), followed by the sequel “Ana…Marra Okhra” (Me…Once again) in 2006 as an anonymous writer. The success of his books among private circles encouraged him to go public and revisit the experience in his latest offering, “Qeel Wa Radadtu.”
The book launch also featured three art installations called the “Book of Jeddah, Dubai and Beirut” produced by Lebanese artist Ara Azad who found inspiration and his raison d’etre for the art-pieces in the first three chapters of SAaD’s book, “Qeel Wa Radadtu.”
The three art installations are scheduled to be travelling for the book-tour in Jeddah, Dubai and Beirut.
The nature of the “Book of Jeddah” installation was inspired by the chapter “Hilm wa Ramal” (Dreams and Sand) in such a way that each time the pages of the installation are leafed through, it produces a sand-like residue onto the glass surface on which the installation is placed.
“We have all been created from the beginning of a dream. In death, you end up in sand. Dream and sand is like the beginning and the end. That perhaps represented Jeddah to Ara Azad in many ways, both literally and figuratively,” said SAaD.
The “Book of Dubai” installation, inspired by the chapter on “flower and volcano,” demonstrates the city’s imposing colossal skyline and its emergence onto the global map akin to the eruption of a lava along with the thriving culture it has brought along.
“This installation demanded a perfection that reflects the sudden burst of human energy that has created the city of Dubai, but, by people who still enjoy the scent of a flower and are not yet de-sensitized,” said Azad.
The “Book of Beirut” art installation opens into a chaotic arrangement that stands as a testimony to the warring past, frenzied present and a hopeful future. Each section of the installation is a fusion of the north and south regions of Lebanon that are united at the heart of Beirut, held by the emblematic cedar tree.
“It so happened that a chapter from the book spoke of home and it instantly reflected my love for Beirut. My only regret is that I have only one life to devote to Beirut,” said Azad.
“The ‘Book of Beirut’ installation reflects the sense of home and country as written in “Qeel Wa Radadtu.” It completely reflects the situation of Beirut. I don’t believe that the civil war has ended yet. The installation shows a way of uniting the diversity of the city in all its colors and forms,” said SAaD.
“Qeel Wa Radadtu,” from which the art installations have been inspired, is an account of imaginary dialogues that the writer has created by assuming faces of different temperaments. It voices opinions on matters of happiness, love, death, philosophy, sadness, sarcasm and all other occurrences that evoke the need for emotional response.
I further implored the author, intent on hearing his philosophical inspirations on life, art and his latest book, “Qeel Wa Radadtu.”
“Qeel Wa Radadtu” is mainly an account of conversations. What is the core theme that it reflects in totality?
If you look around you, whatever you are in contact with, you create a form of conversation. Be it the food you eat or the chair you sit on. The methods of conversation in literature are gone. Conversations make you see things from a different perspective.
Not all. In some pieces, I pretend to be someone else to continue the conversation. If we both agree on everything, there wouldn’t be one. Different methods, ethics and moods to things are always needed.
Even by adopting the worst characters through whom I have replied, I assure you in all honesty that there was a piece of me. You must accept that there is a devil in me, in you, in everyone. Everyone tries to suppress that side, which is good since we must aim for the good of everything but you are the enemy of what you don’t know.
Art is so subjective, just as writing. The genius of Ara Azad is how he was able to translate the words in “Qeel Wa Radadtu” into installations. I consider each letter in any language an art by itself. It’s like a mirror to each other. When you see art, you can see its reflection in words.
At a certain point in my life, I stopped expecting anything. I do what I have to and leave the rest to God. I am so satisfied with the spirit my book reflects. It’s like a living thing, the conversations; you can feel the soul in each piece. Two humans are interacting with each other, which is beautiful. I have my ambitions, I have my goals that I work hard upon, but expectations: zero.
I hate to categorize myself or even frame my style of writing. I just write. Writing is a third lung to me. But no, I’m not a philosopher, just a person who is not limiting himself by society’s cultures and traditions. Believe in what you believe, make your connection with God and do whatever is right.
I once read that philosophy is simplifying the difficult. Only reality is complicated. When you say philosophy, I think of Plato — a great neutral mind.
Neutrality is about accepting others as they are, as God created them, accepting their reality and not as you want them to be.
It’s been the amazing discoveries a person can find within himself. Just start with observing yourself, your behaviors; don’t give excuses for yourself. When you are wrong, admit it to yourself; there’s nothing wrong with being wrong. When you are right, agree with yourself. When you believe in something, defend it. When someone makes you think otherwise, accept it. Don’t be stubborn and don’t be a follower.
Always remember that a passing second doesn’t repeat. When it passes, it passes and it counts…The chance for you to discover yourself is passing with time; don’t waste it. There is no use discovering the whole world when you have yourself to discover.
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