For those of you who have been following Tunisian Calligraffiti artist eL Seed and the development of his stunning mural “Perception” across 50 buildings in Zaraeeb, Manshiyat Nasr, Cairo, you can now read up on the behind-the-scenes of the entire process in his latest book, also titled Perception.

For our May 2015 cover story on the mural, click on the link below.

PERCEPTION

Courtesy of eL Seed

Courtesy of eL Seed

Showcasing the story behind “Perception”, the book has interviews with members of the Manshiyat Nasr community, including the Coptic Egyptians, hundreds of photographs charting it from planning to completion, and the artist’s story. Perception is in itself a work of art by eL Seed who has painted another mural across the first 500 editions of the book. Here’s more from where the website’s official description:

The first 500 copies are limited editions, which include an insert of recycled paper manufactured in the community and are housed in a hand-painted sleeve by the artist himself.  Each cover is a fragment of the mural and together; they create the complete mural as it stands in Cairo.

eL Seed at work. Taken from perception-elseed-art.com

If you are in New York City, you can pick up the book  and have it signed on October 4, or you can buy it at eL Seed’s studio in Dubai.

The best part? Some of the proceeds go back to the Manshiyat Nasr community to help the neighborhood’s schools with sourcing materials and other charities.

 

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[…] Through the open window, Cairo stretches along the Nile. The same traffic, the same vehicles, the same traders at their stalls and, for me, a feeling of coming home. But I’m much more attentive to the details. My eyes fall on the faces of passers-by walking along the banks of the river, on the clenched hands of drivers trying to clear a path through the melee of vehicles. Time has stood still like the statue of Umm Kulthum which hasn’t moved since our last visit. With the same iconic hairstyle, famous scarf in hand and questioning posture, she seems to be asking me why we’ve come back. Sometimes, when you experience such an intense event, you start doubting it was real. You doubt your emotions as well as the emotions of others. I needed to convince myself that what we’d experienced was real and genuine, that we hadn’t been dreaming. I was apprehensive about coming back, afraid of the dreadful disappointment of unreciprocated feelings. The rubbish crushed by the constant stream of vehicles on the main road still marks the way to the neighbourhood. A damaged irrigation pipe has flooded part of the road. Our access to the main crossroads is slowed by vehicles trying to cross this huge puddle of water, each one like a tightrope walker following a narrow line to avoid getting stuck. Worried about flooding his car, Wagdy feels the pressure of the horns behind us. We finally get to the crossroads and I feel like I’ve never left the neighbourhood. Familiar faces greet us, surprised to see us again: the ironmonger, the butcher, a few sexagenarians still standing guard at the entrance to the crossroads like border patrol. The chairs of the cafe opposite are still wedged between the pavement and the front of a shop.
The smell of the rubbish, pungent the first time, doesn’t bother me anymore. Although it’s stomach-churning, my olfactory memory associates this smell with wonderful memories. […] Perception, eL Seed. 2018 Book Launch October 4th at @themuseumofmodernart #perception #Zaraeeb #StAthanasius #Cairo 🎥 @mehdykhmili – @ydbkhytdhky @beshoosaid

A post shared by eL Seed (@elseed) on Sep 23, 2018 at 2:36pm PDT

For more on “Perception” visit www.perception.elseed-art.com, and also follow eL Seed on Instagram @elseed. 

Featured image taken from www.perception-elseed-art.com.