Nothing signals the start of the creative and cultural season in Kuwait like marking our calendars for an upcoming Nuqat Regional Conference. This year, Nuqat further marks a milestone 10-year anniversary, and while the announcement has the entire region buzzing with excitement, Kuwait’s Nuqat-goers must be wondering how this year’s theme, focused on discussing the ‘State of the Elastic Mind: A New Mindset for Old Barriers’, will bring thinkers, creatives, activists, and policymakers from all over the Arab World to Kuwait.

All in the effort to better understand, properly critique and reframe mindsets that have shaped prevalent, and even endemic, social structures in the Arab world, bazaar has partnered with Nuqat to bring you this exclusive Speaker series, which aims to introduce some of the great speakers flying in for the special 10-day conference that will take place at the Amricani Cultural Center this November.

Up first, meet architect and designer Elias Soueidi. With his focus on introducing spatial and architectural artifacts developed through the experimentation and scientific investigation of systems and algorithms, Elias will surely regale audiences in Kuwait this November. In 2018, Elias won the Audi Innovation Award for ‘Ruin 2 Reality’, which is an application aimed at reconnecting people with their collective memories. After studying architecture between Beirut and Paris, he pursued his passion in architecture and design by participating in international research workshops and programs throughout the world – simulating different iterations of living spaces and interventions. He has developed an interest for plugins and interactions with existing structures. Soueidi believes that buildings, ruins, and urban gaps are home to constant memory formation.

What would you consider to be the starting point of your career?

I studied architecture and loved it, found a job and made a great start in the construction and design industry, but it is only when I started working on ‘Ruin 2 Reality’, that I have realized that my career wouldn’t be one specific job, but rather an entrepreneurial journey.

Have you faced any structural, social or personal barriers in your personal or professional journey? If so, what were they?

Business in its natural form has embedded barriers and obstacles that everyone will have to face. The success model is based on a combination of trial and errors merged with failures. The greatest obstacle that I have faced was to maintain the focus on my aim, and not to compromise my ideas and shift away from my goal.

Was there a turning point or an experience in your life that made you change your mindset or practice elastic thinking? If there is—please take us through that process. I.e. What was your initial mindset, what was the experience you were faced with that triggered you to change your mindset and what mindset are you in now?

Elastic thinking comes from having good sense of awareness of your circumstances and the combination of problem solving and decision making. I used to be determined to achieve my goals the way I had visualized them, without compromise. Getting to work with people, leading them to achieve one common goal, made me realize that a goal is not a dot nor a bullseye, but rather an area of achievements that have to be accomplished with an open and elastic mind.

If you had one superpower, what would it be?

I have always dreamed of being capable of manipulating objects and elements remotely and effortlessly.

What item would you put in a time capsule to help the next century understand our current time?

I would give them a brain cell. I think our brains are constantly and exponentially evolving, there will be a lot to understand analyzing it.

What are you looking forward to the most about coming to Kuwait?

I have never been to Kuwait before, and I am eager to get to see the structure and the morphology of the city as well as meet the people and interact with them.

What did you want to be when you were growing up? 

As a child, I have always been passionate about making an impact on people and help them live better lives, the most obvious direction back then, was medicine.

If you could go back in time, where would you go?

I would go back to the creation of the universe, to witness the creation of the miracle we call life.

Which book changed your life?

A lot of books have impacted me in the past years: Awaken the Giant Within, The Richest Man in Babylon, Think and Grow Rich, What Makes a Leader, Sell or Be Sold.

What single thing would improve the quality of your life? 

Knowledge and character building are key factors to a great life quality, two infinite interwoven components.

How do you relax?

I have a morning ritual consisting of a breathing technique and workout which puts me in the best mood to start my day.

Stay updated about Nuqat’s latest on Instagram @nuqat and visit www.nuqat.me for more information. Featured image courtesy of Elias Soueidi.

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