if you take this guitar there are several things you can do with it and
several things you can do with it and
several things you can do with it and there are several ways to explore its
there are several ways to explore its
there are several ways to explore its strings right so you can just basically
play strings one by one individually or
play strings one by one individually or you can play on one same string or of
you can play on one same string or of
you can play on one same string or of course you can play on all the strings
course you can play on all the strings
course you can play on all the strings together
just to come up with maybe a personal
just to come up with maybe a personal melody so what I like to suggest is that
melody so what I like to suggest is that
melody so what I like to suggest is that passions and hobbies and all kinds of
passions and hobbies and all kinds of
passions and hobbies and all kinds of activities actually are exactly the same
activities actually are exactly the same
activities actually are exactly the same thing as those strings and it’s actually
thing as those strings and it’s actually
thing as those strings and it’s actually my passion for exploration my love of
my passion for exploration my love of
my passion for exploration my love of exploration that me grew up in various
exploration that me grew up in various
exploration that me grew up in various artistic fields and led me to realize
artistic fields and led me to realize
artistic fields and led me to realize how powerful combining different
how powerful combining different
how powerful combining different activities can be and I think that
activities can be and I think that
activities can be and I think that exploration has two different dimensions
exploration has two different dimensions
exploration has two different dimensions it has a navigational dimension it has a
it has a navigational dimension it has a
it has a navigational dimension it has a deepening dimension so we can just
deepening dimension so we can just
deepening dimension so we can just navigate through different types of
navigate through different types of
navigate through different types of activities and jump from one to another
activities and jump from one to another
activities and jump from one to another and we can go deeper and deeper and
and we can go deeper and deeper and
and we can go deeper and deeper and focus on just one same practice and to
focus on just one same practice and to
focus on just one same practice and to illustrate this idea I’d like to share
illustrate this idea I’d like to share
illustrate this idea I’d like to share my experience and part of my exploratory
my experience and part of my exploratory
my experience and part of my exploratory journey throughout several passions that
journey throughout several passions that
journey throughout several passions that I developed and the first one is
I developed and the first one is
I developed and the first one is photography I discovered my passion for
photography I discovered my passion for
photography I discovered my passion for photography during my master’s degree in
photography during my master’s degree in
photography during my master’s degree in architecture and so I got into
architecture and so I got into
architecture and so I got into architectural photography and what I
architectural photography and what I
architectural photography and what I learned is that architectural
learned is that architectural
learned is that architectural photography is not just about taking a
photography is not just about taking a
photography is not just about taking a beautiful picture of a building
beautiful picture of a building
beautiful picture of a building it’s more solar than that you know our
it’s more solar than that you know our
it’s more solar than that you know our reaction when we see architecture
reaction when we see architecture
reaction when we see architecture photography should not be wow that’s a
photography should not be wow that’s a
photography should not be wow that’s a beautiful picture but rather Wow
beautiful picture but rather Wow
beautiful picture but rather Wow that’s a beautiful building so it’s very
that’s a beautiful building so it’s very
that’s a beautiful building so it’s very subtle I had to study it in depth and
subtle I had to study it in depth and
subtle I had to study it in depth and practice it a lot and eventually what
practice it a lot and eventually what
practice it a lot and eventually what happened is that it served me in
happened is that it served me in
happened is that it served me in architecture because I acquired a more
architecture because I acquired a more
architecture because I acquired a more sensitive eye on the importance of light
sensitive eye on the importance of light
sensitive eye on the importance of light and shades and the relationship between
and shades and the relationship between
and shades and the relationship between them and materials and their properties
them and materials and their properties
them and materials and their properties and I eventually got even a better sense
and I eventually got even a better sense
and I eventually got even a better sense of proportions in architectural design
of proportions in architectural design
of proportions in architectural design itself
itself
itself so really photography helped me in
so really photography helped me in
so really photography helped me in architecture so that was already
architecture so that was already
architecture so that was already interesting to me and then I began a
interesting to me and then I began a
interesting to me and then I began a journey throughout different kinds of
journey throughout different kinds of
journey throughout different kinds of photography such as city photography and
photography such as city photography and
photography such as city photography and that was
that was
that was turned out pretty different from
turned out pretty different from
turned out pretty different from architecture and I learned new things
architecture and I learned new things
architecture and I learned new things from there and I went to discover street
from there and I went to discover street
from there and I went to discover street photography as well and that was very
photography as well and that was very
photography as well and that was very interesting as well because it has a
interesting as well because it has a
interesting as well because it has a very spontaneous aspect and I got deeper
very spontaneous aspect and I got deeper
very spontaneous aspect and I got deeper into it by focusing on very particular
into it by focusing on very particular
into it by focusing on very particular themes such as shooting children for
themes such as shooting children for
themes such as shooting children for instance and I really loved that a lot
instance and I really loved that a lot
instance and I really loved that a lot and so that made me go deeper because I
and so that made me go deeper because I
and so that made me go deeper because I really had to think of what is the best
really had to think of what is the best
really had to think of what is the best way to express that particular theme
way to express that particular theme
way to express that particular theme then I went to shooting landscapes and
then I went to shooting landscapes and
then I went to shooting landscapes and with landscapes of course I had to show
with landscapes of course I had to show
with landscapes of course I had to show the whole scenery in front of me so I
the whole scenery in front of me so I
the whole scenery in front of me so I had to learn how to make panoramas and
had to learn how to make panoramas and
had to learn how to make panoramas and stitching pictures all together and
stitching pictures all together and
stitching pictures all together and eventually I could apply this technique
eventually I could apply this technique
eventually I could apply this technique to architecture and city photography as
to architecture and city photography as
to architecture and city photography as well so actually every time I start
well so actually every time I start
well so actually every time I start something new I don’t know in advance
something new I don’t know in advance
something new I don’t know in advance what I’m gonna learn or how I’m gonna
what I’m gonna learn or how I’m gonna
what I’m gonna learn or how I’m gonna benefit from it but every time I do I
benefit from it but every time I do I
benefit from it but every time I do I really learn something and it nourishes
really learn something and it nourishes
really learn something and it nourishes my general practices and one of the most
my general practices and one of the most
my general practices and one of the most important things that I learned in
important things that I learned in
important things that I learned in photography and this variety of types is
photography and this variety of types is
photography and this variety of types is that even one degree in an angle of view
that even one degree in an angle of view
that even one degree in an angle of view can make a big difference in a picture
can make a big difference in a picture
can make a big difference in a picture now one day an artistic director from a
now one day an artistic director from a
now one day an artistic director from a company called dos Santos called me and
company called dos Santos called me and
company called dos Santos called me and she was actually a friend of mine and
she was actually a friend of mine and
she was actually a friend of mine and she asked me to shoot one of her live
she asked me to shoot one of her live
she asked me to shoot one of her live performance shows and you know when you
performance shows and you know when you
performance shows and you know when you ask someone who’s been just shooting
ask someone who’s been just shooting
ask someone who’s been just shooting buildings and nature so basically just
buildings and nature so basically just
buildings and nature so basically just static subjects in broad daylight most
static subjects in broad daylight most
static subjects in broad daylight most of the time to shoot you know a live
of the time to shoot you know a live
of the time to shoot you know a live performance in the dark with people
performance in the dark with people
performance in the dark with people jumping around it’s like it’s like
jumping around it’s like it’s like
jumping around it’s like it’s like asking a mechanic to remove someone’s
asking a mechanic to remove someone’s
asking a mechanic to remove someone’s tooth you know it’s it’s very risky you
tooth you know it’s it’s very risky you
tooth you know it’s it’s very risky you know I just don’t do it so what happens
know I just don’t do it so what happens
know I just don’t do it so what happens that at that time I never did that
that at that time I never did that
that at that time I never did that before and I didn’t even have the right
before and I didn’t even have the right
before and I didn’t even have the right equipment to shoot it and also she told
equipment to shoot it and also she told
equipment to shoot it and also she told me that half of the performance is gonna
me that half of the performance is gonna
me that half of the performance is gonna be lit with just one single candle I
be lit with just one single candle I
be lit with just one single candle I mean come on that’s not a lot of light
mean come on that’s not a lot of light
mean come on that’s not a lot of light so I had all the perfect excuses
so I had all the perfect excuses
so I had all the perfect excuses to refuse that mission and of course I
to refuse that mission and of course I
to refuse that mission and of course I accepted and it turned out very good
accepted and it turned out very good
accepted and it turned out very good actually and she called me back for
actually and she called me back for
actually and she called me back for another project on which we collaborated
another project on which we collaborated
another project on which we collaborated together and that was really a great
together and that was really a great
together and that was really a great great experience we made a photo
great experience we made a photo
great experience we made a photo exhibition out of it which is still
exhibition out of it which is still
exhibition out of it which is still alive today and traveling from one place
alive today and traveling from one place
alive today and traveling from one place to another so it was a beautiful
to another so it was a beautiful
to another so it was a beautiful performance here really rich in emotions
performance here really rich in emotions
performance here really rich in emotions and I mean this guy is incredible and in
and I mean this guy is incredible and in
and I mean this guy is incredible and in this picture I always think you know
this picture I always think you know
this picture I always think you know it’s like a mechanic just removed one of
it’s like a mechanic just removed one of
it’s like a mechanic just removed one of his tooth you know anyway so to another
his tooth you know anyway so to another
his tooth you know anyway so to another activity an artistic feel that I got
activity an artistic feel that I got
activity an artistic feel that I got passionate about it’s digital art and
passionate about it’s digital art and
passionate about it’s digital art and photo montage and what is photo montage
photo montage and what is photo montage
photo montage and what is photo montage basically is gathering pictures from
basically is gathering pictures from
basically is gathering pictures from different sources mashing them up
different sources mashing them up
different sources mashing them up together and come up with an
together and come up with an
together and come up with an illustration very harmonious
illustration very harmonious
illustration very harmonious illustration so just to give you a quick
illustration so just to give you a quick
illustration so just to give you a quick example of an unlikely scenario that I
example of an unlikely scenario that I
example of an unlikely scenario that I thought of I just start with a flower
thought of I just start with a flower
thought of I just start with a flower feed and I add a guy there okay but I
feed and I add a guy there okay but I
feed and I add a guy there okay but I don’t really like the expression on his
don’t really like the expression on his
don’t really like the expression on his face so I just change it a little bit
face so I just change it a little bit
face so I just change it a little bit okay and I go on with a few more twists
okay and I go on with a few more twists
okay and I go on with a few more twists and I had a friend of him there but I
and I had a friend of him there but I
and I had a friend of him there but I didn’t write II really liked his head
didn’t write II really liked his head
didn’t write II really liked his head neither so I just chop it off and and
neither so I just chop it off and and
neither so I just chop it off and and replace it with a leopard and there is
replace it with a leopard and there is
replace it with a leopard and there is the final image now don’t ask me how I
the final image now don’t ask me how I
the final image now don’t ask me how I thought of this I don’t know it’s just
thought of this I don’t know it’s just
thought of this I don’t know it’s just like there are fireworks in my brain
like there are fireworks in my brain
like there are fireworks in my brain sometimes I came with this idea so what
sometimes I came with this idea so what
sometimes I came with this idea so what was really exciting to me is that I
was really exciting to me is that I
was really exciting to me is that I could think of anything in my head once
could think of anything in my head once
could think of anything in my head once I master the tools I can just make
I master the tools I can just make
I master the tools I can just make illustration no matter how crazy they
illustration no matter how crazy they
illustration no matter how crazy they are and I remember one day I dreamt of a
are and I remember one day I dreamt of a
are and I remember one day I dreamt of a horse playing football with Cristiano
horse playing football with Cristiano
horse playing football with Cristiano Ronaldo and well just made it you know
Ronaldo and well just made it you know
Ronaldo and well just made it you know really had lots of fun with their doing
really had lots of fun with their doing
really had lots of fun with their doing it so
so well how I got deeper into into that
so well how I got deeper into into that and the way I got deeper is I go through
and the way I got deeper is I go through
and the way I got deeper is I go through what I call mind shifts and basically
what I call mind shifts and basically
what I call mind shifts and basically mind shifts to me is like getting out of
mind shifts to me is like getting out of
mind shifts to me is like getting out of the usual path and starting to do
the usual path and starting to do
the usual path and starting to do something new you know in the same field
something new you know in the same field
something new you know in the same field so what I started to do is trying
so what I started to do is trying
so what I started to do is trying different styles and techniques so I
different styles and techniques so I
different styles and techniques so I remember one day I was very bored at
remember one day I was very bored at
remember one day I was very bored at home alone and I did this you know and
home alone and I did this you know and
home alone and I did this you know and this is pretty representative of the
this is pretty representative of the
this is pretty representative of the mess that’s going on in my head
mess that’s going on in my head
mess that’s going on in my head sometimes but it’s very different inside
sometimes but it’s very different inside
sometimes but it’s very different inside compared to the previous ones so I
compared to the previous ones so I
compared to the previous ones so I really tried to do something new and I
really tried to do something new and I
really tried to do something new and I tried new techniques but still using the
tried new techniques but still using the
tried new techniques but still using the same tools as I used to do and I also
same tools as I used to do and I also
same tools as I used to do and I also tried hand drawing again using the same
tried hand drawing again using the same
tried hand drawing again using the same softwares now there’s still another
softwares now there’s still another
softwares now there’s still another passion of mine I didn’t talk about
passion of mine I didn’t talk about
passion of mine I didn’t talk about which is the composing music and playing
which is the composing music and playing
which is the composing music and playing on piano so one day I had an idea I
on piano so one day I had an idea I
on piano so one day I had an idea I thought hey why don’t I extend the soul
thought hey why don’t I extend the soul
thought hey why don’t I extend the soul of my music pieces into another
of my music pieces into another
of my music pieces into another dimension so what I started to do is
dimension so what I started to do is
dimension so what I started to do is creating illustrations for my pieces of
creating illustrations for my pieces of
creating illustrations for my pieces of music that express in the best way the
music that express in the best way the
music that express in the best way the concept of the music so here I started
concept of the music so here I started
concept of the music so here I started to combine music and photo montage and
to combine music and photo montage and
to combine music and photo montage and the idea I really like the idea so I
the idea I really like the idea so I
the idea I really like the idea so I applied it to other pieces of music and
applied it to other pieces of music and
applied it to other pieces of music and actually started to become more and more
actually started to become more and more
actually started to become more and more aware of you know the potential of
aware of you know the potential of
aware of you know the potential of combining different skills together so
combining different skills together so
combining different skills together so what I started to do is act actually
what I started to do is act actually
what I started to do is act actually applying exactly the same process of
applying exactly the same process of
applying exactly the same process of photo montage to my architectural
photo montage to my architectural
photo montage to my architectural project and I call this inviting people
project and I call this inviting people
project and I call this inviting people into my imagination actually so there’s
into my imagination actually so there’s
into my imagination actually so there’s another good example as well of like
another good example as well of like
another good example as well of like strumming all the strings of a guitar
strumming all the strings of a guitar
strumming all the strings of a guitar right and it’s a project of a hotel that
right and it’s a project of a hotel that
right and it’s a project of a hotel that I worked on I start with the basic
I worked on I start with the basic
I worked on I start with the basic sketch your hands
sketch your hands
sketch your hands i Billiton 3d model and what’s about
i Billiton 3d model and what’s about
i Billiton 3d model and what’s about this buildings that it was called the
this buildings that it was called the
this buildings that it was called the pearl so I wanted to be very homogeneous
pearl so I wanted to be very homogeneous
pearl so I wanted to be very homogeneous so I got this idea of covering the whole
so I got this idea of covering the whole
so I got this idea of covering the whole building with some kind of skin so I had
building with some kind of skin so I had
building with some kind of skin so I had to work on the drawings and texture of
to work on the drawings and texture of
to work on the drawings and texture of that skin I tried different ones and
that skin I tried different ones and
that skin I tried different ones and finally I got I chose one of them and
finally I got I chose one of them and
finally I got I chose one of them and there was still one step ahead which is
there was still one step ahead which is
there was still one step ahead which is making this model look more
making this model look more
making this model look more photorealistic which involves you know
photorealistic which involves you know
photorealistic which involves you know learning new software’s again so
learning new software’s again so
learning new software’s again so basically the result we see here is a
basically the result we see here is a
basically the result we see here is a combination of architectural design hand
combination of architectural design hand
combination of architectural design hand drawing 3d modeling Eunos texturing
drawing 3d modeling Eunos texturing
drawing 3d modeling Eunos texturing research computer-generated image as
research computer-generated image as
research computer-generated image as well as photography because in
well as photography because in
well as photography because in photography I learned how to choose the
photography I learned how to choose the
photography I learned how to choose the best angle of view to show a project so
best angle of view to show a project so
best angle of view to show a project so this is a really good example of how I
this is a really good example of how I
this is a really good example of how I strummed all this the strings of my
strummed all this the strings of my
strummed all this the strings of my guitar so I started applying this all my
guitar so I started applying this all my
guitar so I started applying this all my of most of my architecture project and I
of most of my architecture project and I
of most of my architecture project and I became more and more aware of this
became more and more aware of this
became more and more aware of this potential of combining skills together
potential of combining skills together
potential of combining skills together so that I could even apply it on small
so that I could even apply it on small
so that I could even apply it on small details like hanging my own pictures in
details like hanging my own pictures in
details like hanging my own pictures in my 3d models this is a villa I designed
my 3d models this is a villa I designed
my 3d models this is a villa I designed for a friend in libya so you’re probably
for a friend in libya so you’re probably
for a friend in libya so you’re probably more familiar with this picture and my
more familiar with this picture and my
more familiar with this picture and my latest artwork is a series of pictures
latest artwork is a series of pictures
latest artwork is a series of pictures that I call digital memories and I had
that I call digital memories and I had
that I call digital memories and I had to go into exploring very new techniques
to go into exploring very new techniques
to go into exploring very new techniques I never tried before to express the very
I never tried before to express the very
I never tried before to express the very vivid detailed and scattered memories
vivid detailed and scattered memories
vivid detailed and scattered memories that manifest in our mind so that is
that manifest in our mind so that is
that manifest in our mind so that is really something very personal that I
really something very personal that I
really something very personal that I really had to develop a personal
really had to develop a personal
really had to develop a personal approach for and I think that we can
approach for and I think that we can
approach for and I think that we can come across this process of combining
come across this process of combining
come across this process of combining things together pretty randomly or by
things together pretty randomly or by
things together pretty randomly or by accident so what I’d like to suggest is
accident so what I’d like to suggest is
accident so what I’d like to suggest is to really think about it very
to really think about it very
to really think about it very consciously and
consciously and
consciously and because the process is pretty simple
because the process is pretty simple
because the process is pretty simple it’s about exploring different
it’s about exploring different
it’s about exploring different activities identifying which skills to
activities identifying which skills to
activities identifying which skills to combine to finally create something very
combine to finally create something very
combine to finally create something very personal and distinctive that defines
personal and distinctive that defines
personal and distinctive that defines our approach and style and what I really
our approach and style and what I really
our approach and style and what I really think is you know I am aware that the
think is you know I am aware that the
think is you know I am aware that the environment I grew up in in Belgium
environment I grew up in in Belgium
environment I grew up in in Belgium really helped me develop these different
really helped me develop these different
really helped me develop these different autistic skills and activities while the
autistic skills and activities while the
autistic skills and activities while the situation here in Libya does not offer
situation here in Libya does not offer
situation here in Libya does not offer as many opportunities however there I’d
as many opportunities however there I’d
as many opportunities however there I’d like to just point out a few things and
like to just point out a few things and
like to just point out a few things and the first one is that being in an
the first one is that being in an
the first one is that being in an environment full of opportunities does
environment full of opportunities does
environment full of opportunities does not necessarily mean we are going to
not necessarily mean we are going to
not necessarily mean we are going to exploit those opportunities when someone
exploit those opportunities when someone
exploit those opportunities when someone who’s in an environment with very few
who’s in an environment with very few
who’s in an environment with very few opportunities may reach better
opportunities may reach better
opportunities may reach better achievements with some effort and there
achievements with some effort and there
achievements with some effort and there are many many real-life examples I can
are many many real-life examples I can
are many many real-life examples I can think of in both cases the second point
think of in both cases the second point
think of in both cases the second point is that I really think we can start with
is that I really think we can start with
is that I really think we can start with very little resources we don’t have to
very little resources we don’t have to
very little resources we don’t have to go into you know buying expensive
go into you know buying expensive
go into you know buying expensive equipments or you know getting a lessons
equipments or you know getting a lessons
equipments or you know getting a lessons and trainings etc you know I myself
and trainings etc you know I myself
and trainings etc you know I myself started playing music on a toy that my
started playing music on a toy that my
started playing music on a toy that my parents bought for my sister I
parents bought for my sister I
parents bought for my sister I discovered my passion for photography
discovered my passion for photography
discovered my passion for photography using give a basic compact camera that’s
using give a basic compact camera that’s
using give a basic compact camera that’s worse than most smartphones used today
worse than most smartphones used today
worse than most smartphones used today and I learned the rendering process of
and I learned the rendering process of
and I learned the rendering process of architecture basically locked in my room
architecture basically locked in my room
architecture basically locked in my room you know sometimes during holidays I
you know sometimes during holidays I
you know sometimes during holidays I wanted to play video games instead but
wanted to play video games instead but
wanted to play video games instead but you know I really had this in mind so
you know I really had this in mind so
you know I really had this in mind so really I think it’s more about general
really I think it’s more about general
really I think it’s more about general curiosity and strong perseverance and
curiosity and strong perseverance and
curiosity and strong perseverance and all that happened before the explosion
all that happened before the explosion
all that happened before the explosion of internet learning videos so which
of internet learning videos so which
of internet learning videos so which brings me to the next point that is
brings me to the next point that is
brings me to the next point that is Internet is a real big game-changer in
Internet is a real big game-changer in
Internet is a real big game-changer in the world of education today and
the world of education today and
the world of education today and educating ourselves have become
educating ourselves have become
educating ourselves have become accessible to anyone who’s got an
accessible to anyone who’s got an
accessible to anyone who’s got an internet connection basically and
internet connection basically and
internet connection basically and fortunates becoming more and more common
fortunates becoming more and more common
fortunates becoming more and more common in Libya as well and they’re a very last
in Libya as well and they’re a very last
in Libya as well and they’re a very last point I’d like to mention is that I’d
point I’d like to mention is that I’d
point I’d like to mention is that I’d like to make you just think outside the
like to make you just think outside the
like to make you just think outside the box you know
box you know
box you know I realize that most of the things that I
I realize that most of the things that I
I realize that most of the things that I talked about are autistic related so the
talked about are autistic related so the
talked about are autistic related so the thing is it’s not necessarily related to
thing is it’s not necessarily related to
thing is it’s not necessarily related to art you know I have a cousin who had a
art you know I have a cousin who had a
art you know I have a cousin who had a passion for motorcycles and you know it
passion for motorcycles and you know it
passion for motorcycles and you know it helped him in many many ways for another
helped him in many many ways for another
helped him in many many ways for another passion he developed for riding horses
passion he developed for riding horses
passion he developed for riding horses so really it’s not related to art and we
so really it’s not related to art and we
so really it’s not related to art and we should really open up the scope of
should really open up the scope of
should really open up the scope of possibilities with this concept and so I
possibilities with this concept and so I
possibilities with this concept and so I really encourage anyone not just those
really encourage anyone not just those
really encourage anyone not just those artistically inclined to try an
artistically inclined to try an
artistically inclined to try an exploratory journey that may lead him or
exploratory journey that may lead him or
exploratory journey that may lead him or her to unexpected horizons so to you who
her to unexpected horizons so to you who
her to unexpected horizons so to you who is who are curious about yourselves
is who are curious about yourselves
is who are curious about yourselves I’d like to suggest you to take your
I’d like to suggest you to take your
I’d like to suggest you to take your inner guitar and explore your strings of
inner guitar and explore your strings of
inner guitar and explore your strings of passion and just play your own melody to
passion and just play your own melody to
passion and just play your own melody to the world thank you very much
the world thank you very much
the world thank you very much [Applause]
”
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