[Applause] crystal payday job may Tanuja may xfr
crystal payday job may Tanuja may xfr
crystal payday job may Tanuja may xfr Kelly I forgot I was going to start in
Kelly I forgot I was going to start in
Kelly I forgot I was going to start in Hindi but I practice anyway so now a few
Hindi but I practice anyway so now a few
Hindi but I practice anyway so now a few years ago I decided to go on a road trip
years ago I decided to go on a road trip
years ago I decided to go on a road trip in Tunisia to create art pieces in the
in Tunisia to create art pieces in the
in Tunisia to create art pieces in the most random places of the country now I
most random places of the country now I
most random places of the country now I never thought this artistic journey will
never thought this artistic journey will
never thought this artistic journey will make me discover so much human stories
make me discover so much human stories
make me discover so much human stories history cultural heritage about my own
history cultural heritage about my own
history cultural heritage about my own country so the initial idea was just to
country so the initial idea was just to
country so the initial idea was just to highlight some beauty and diversity of
highlight some beauty and diversity of
highlight some beauty and diversity of the country at a time just after the
the country at a time just after the
the country at a time just after the Revolution where all the attention was
Revolution where all the attention was
Revolution where all the attention was focused on political issue so I just use
focused on political issue so I just use
focused on political issue so I just use art as a pretext to to take this journey
art as a pretext to to take this journey
art as a pretext to to take this journey so I learned that during the French
so I learned that during the French
so I learned that during the French protectorate jealous I used to be one of
protectorate jealous I used to be one of
protectorate jealous I used to be one of the wealthiest city of Tunisia because
the wealthiest city of Tunisia because
the wealthiest city of Tunisia because of the steel industry used to be called
of the steel industry used to be called
of the steel industry used to be called uppity Paris because of the European
uppity Paris because of the European
uppity Paris because of the European architecture and the diversity of the
architecture and the diversity of the
architecture and the diversity of the community living in the city at this
community living in the city at this
community living in the city at this time some old man told me that actually
time some old man told me that actually
time some old man told me that actually the steel of cheresa is the one that
the steel of cheresa is the one that
the steel of cheresa is the one that built the Eiffel Tower in Paris so
built the Eiffel Tower in Paris so
built the Eiffel Tower in Paris so publicly today I can say that the effort
publicly today I can say that the effort
publicly today I can say that the effort tower is Tunisian I remember entering a
tower is Tunisian I remember entering a
tower is Tunisian I remember entering a small town called Sarah dead were
small town called Sarah dead were
small town called Sarah dead were immediately spotted a word that I wanted
immediately spotted a word that I wanted
immediately spotted a word that I wanted to paint so I went to a cafe where some
to paint so I went to a cafe where some
to paint so I went to a cafe where some guys and I asked guys if is it okay for
guys and I asked guys if is it okay for
guys and I asked guys if is it okay for me to paint this wall and some guys here
me to paint this wall and some guys here
me to paint this wall and some guys here it’s my house so Nora’s go for it and
it’s my house so Nora’s go for it and
it’s my house so Nora’s go for it and then when I was in the middle of the
then when I was in the middle of the
then when I was in the middle of the process this odd man came to me yelling
process this odd man came to me yelling
process this odd man came to me yelling at me telling me what are you doing you
at me telling me what are you doing you
at me telling me what are you doing you think I’m dead for you to paint in my
think I’m dead for you to paint in my
think I’m dead for you to paint in my house and I was confused I was like this
house and I was confused I was like this
house and I was confused I was like this guy for me that was his house and say no
guy for me that was his house and say no
guy for me that was his house and say no this is mine you need to erase that
this is mine you need to erase that
this is mine you need to erase that right now so I told him please let me
right now so I told him please let me
right now so I told him please let me just finish I take a picture and then I
just finish I take a picture and then I
just finish I take a picture and then I erase it so he agreed on that and
erase it so he agreed on that and
erase it so he agreed on that and actually when I was over I was almost
actually when I was over I was almost
actually when I was over I was almost done he sent to his nephew to me telling
done he sent to his nephew to me telling
done he sent to his nephew to me telling me that actually is anger like the piece
me that actually is anger like the piece
me that actually is anger like the piece and you wanted to keep it yeah
and you wanted to keep it yeah
and you wanted to keep it yeah so it’s interesting to see how people
so it’s interesting to see how people
so it’s interesting to see how people are sensitive to art you know and how
are sensitive to art you know and how
are sensitive to art you know and how you can easily switch perception or
you can easily switch perception or
you can easily switch perception or or open a dialogue or just connect with
or open a dialogue or just connect with
or open a dialogue or just connect with people in this trip
people in this trip
people in this trip imagine we got arrested by the army and
imagine we got arrested by the army and
imagine we got arrested by the army and you know after a while explaining the
you know after a while explaining the
you know after a while explaining the purpose of the project the captain of
purpose of the project the captain of
purpose of the project the captain of the army loved the idea and said guys
the army loved the idea and said guys
the army loved the idea and said guys I’m getting married in few days in this
I’m getting married in few days in this
I’m getting married in few days in this city and actually that was a city were
city and actually that was a city were
city and actually that was a city were planning to go so that was kind of
planning to go so that was kind of
planning to go so that was kind of amazing
amazing
amazing you know when you create something
you know when you create something
you know when you create something inside the community you bring out this
inside the community you bring out this
inside the community you bring out this feeling of pride and that’s how it’s
feeling of pride and that’s how it’s
feeling of pride and that’s how it’s easy to connect with people I remember
easy to connect with people I remember
easy to connect with people I remember this man telling me that sometime you
this man telling me that sometime you
this man telling me that sometime you need somebody from outside to tell you a
need somebody from outside to tell you a
need somebody from outside to tell you a beautiful you are
beautiful you are
beautiful you are and I want today you know to keep doing
and I want today you know to keep doing
and I want today you know to keep doing this to show the beauty of people and
this to show the beauty of people and
this to show the beauty of people and community that I visit show the beauty
community that I visit show the beauty
community that I visit show the beauty of different culture and being able you
of different culture and being able you
of different culture and being able you know like to keep doing what I do it
know like to keep doing what I do it
know like to keep doing what I do it might sound weird to you but Arabic
might sound weird to you but Arabic
might sound weird to you but Arabic script despite all the misconception and
script despite all the misconception and
script despite all the misconception and when stereotype attached to it is the
when stereotype attached to it is the
when stereotype attached to it is the medium that I use to connect with people
medium that I use to connect with people
medium that I use to connect with people it was all born out of Christ’s identity
it was all born out of Christ’s identity
it was all born out of Christ’s identity crisis I was born and raised in France
crisis I was born and raised in France
crisis I was born and raised in France from Tunisian parents so when I was a
from Tunisian parents so when I was a
from Tunisian parents so when I was a teenager I felt that I have to make a
teenager I felt that I have to make a
teenager I felt that I have to make a choice between my French or my Tunisian
choice between my French or my Tunisian
choice between my French or my Tunisian identity I run to my Arabic roots so I
identity I run to my Arabic roots so I
identity I run to my Arabic roots so I start learning how to read and write and
start learning how to read and write and
start learning how to read and write and write Arabic at the age of 18 and later
write Arabic at the age of 18 and later
write Arabic at the age of 18 and later on I realized that actually that was a
on I realized that actually that was a
on I realized that actually that was a mistake I didn’t have to make any choice
mistake I didn’t have to make any choice
mistake I didn’t have to make any choice and ironically Arabic calligraphy later
and ironically Arabic calligraphy later
and ironically Arabic calligraphy later on made me accept my French identity and
on made me accept my French identity and
on made me accept my French identity and in came it so I try to go beyond all the
in came it so I try to go beyond all the
in came it so I try to go beyond all the stereotype a stereotype attached to my
stereotype a stereotype attached to my
stereotype a stereotype attached to my culture I use Arabic script as a tool to
culture I use Arabic script as a tool to
culture I use Arabic script as a tool to build bridges between community people
build bridges between community people
build bridges between community people generation and culture and I try to
generation and culture and I try to
generation and culture and I try to spread respect tolerance and acceptance
spread respect tolerance and acceptance
spread respect tolerance and acceptance amongst communities as well and I always
amongst communities as well and I always
amongst communities as well and I always insist on the fact that Arabic script
insist on the fact that Arabic script
insist on the fact that Arabic script has this Universal dimension a universal
has this Universal dimension a universal
has this Universal dimension a universal beauty that you don’t need to translate
beauty that you don’t need to translate
beauty that you don’t need to translate anybody it has a power that anybody can
anybody it has a power that anybody can
anybody it has a power that anybody can feel good or bad no one is insensitive
feel good or bad no one is insensitive
feel good or bad no one is insensitive to it
to it
to it there is like any form of art there is
there is like any form of art there is
there is like any form of art there is different layer of looking at my pieces
different layer of looking at my pieces
different layer of looking at my pieces the first layer is the aesthetic is
the first layer is the aesthetic is
the first layer is the aesthetic is what’s catch the attention of people the
what’s catch the attention of people the
what’s catch the attention of people the other layer the messages and the
other layer the messages and the
other layer the messages and the political or social context when
political or social context when
political or social context when creating my art piece writing messages
creating my art piece writing messages
creating my art piece writing messages is the essence of my artwork always
is the essence of my artwork always
is the essence of my artwork always write messages that are relevant to the
write messages that are relevant to the
write messages that are relevant to the place where I’m painting but messages
place where I’m painting but messages
place where I’m painting but messages that of this Universal dimension so
that of this Universal dimension so
that of this Universal dimension so anybody around the world can relate to
anybody around the world can relate to
anybody around the world can relate to it you know what Arabic script is easily
it you know what Arabic script is easily
it you know what Arabic script is easily recognizable and it’s funny to see how
recognizable and it’s funny to see how
recognizable and it’s funny to see how people are intrigued by it at the
people are intrigued by it at the
people are intrigued by it at the beginning but as soon as you explain the
beginning but as soon as you explain the
beginning but as soon as you explain the meaning behind it they feel connected to
meaning behind it they feel connected to
meaning behind it they feel connected to the piece so I decided actually to use
the piece so I decided actually to use
the piece so I decided actually to use art as a way for me to enter places and
art as a way for me to enter places and
art as a way for me to enter places and communities that most of the people
communities that most of the people
communities that most of the people would tell me not to go for example in
would tell me not to go for example in
would tell me not to go for example in Brazil in Rio de Janeiro I went to
Brazil in Rio de Janeiro I went to
Brazil in Rio de Janeiro I went to Vidigal favela where I painted this
Vidigal favela where I painted this
Vidigal favela where I painted this rooftop
rooftop
rooftop I used the word of Brazilian poet that I
I used the word of Brazilian poet that I
I used the word of Brazilian poet that I translated from Portuguese to to Arabic
translated from Portuguese to to Arabic
translated from Portuguese to to Arabic and this world today disappeared it was
and this world today disappeared it was
and this world today disappeared it was erased but what is interesting is the
erased but what is interesting is the
erased but what is interesting is the story behind it I try to reach this
story behind it I try to reach this
story behind it I try to reach this woman while I was in Brazil I couldn’t
woman while I was in Brazil I couldn’t
woman while I was in Brazil I couldn’t get in touch with her but somebody a
get in touch with her but somebody a
get in touch with her but somebody a friend of mine managed to find her and
friend of mine managed to find her and
friend of mine managed to find her and show her the piece of art and show her
show her the piece of art and show her
show her the piece of art and show her told her the story and then she reach me
told her the story and then she reach me
told her the story and then she reach me on Facebook to thank me and I was really
on Facebook to thank me and I was really
on Facebook to thank me and I was really touched by a small message
touched by a small message
touched by a small message I remember in Melbourne this 8 years old
I remember in Melbourne this 8 years old
I remember in Melbourne this 8 years old girl she took my hand while I was
girl she took my hand while I was
girl she took my hand while I was painting and she told me I would like to
painting and she told me I would like to
painting and she told me I would like to talk to you in private so she took me
talk to you in private so she took me
talk to you in private so she took me and sat on some stairs and then she said
and sat on some stairs and then she said
and sat on some stairs and then she said that you know I want to become an artist
that you know I want to become an artist
that you know I want to become an artist like you I love animals and of nature
like you I love animals and of nature
like you I love animals and of nature and tele whoop I see who’s from another
and tele whoop I see who’s from another
and tele whoop I see who’s from another city in somewhere an outsider and she
city in somewhere an outsider and she
city in somewhere an outsider and she asked me to to keep it with her so I can
asked me to to keep it with her so I can
asked me to to keep it with her so I can always remember her and I pray that one
always remember her and I pray that one
always remember her and I pray that one day maybe in 20 years I will see her
day maybe in 20 years I will see her
day maybe in 20 years I will see her like and she will be like you know like
like and she will be like you know like
like and she will be like you know like you establish artists and actually I
you establish artists and actually I
you establish artists and actually I kept my promise I always have like this
kept my promise I always have like this
kept my promise I always have like this little piece of Maya on my wallet so for
little piece of Maya on my wallet so for
little piece of Maya on my wallet so for me art is just
me art is just
me art is just a text to create human experience to
a text to create human experience to
a text to create human experience to connect with people and I think some
connect with people and I think some
connect with people and I think some time I leave something in people’s life
time I leave something in people’s life
time I leave something in people’s life but actually the other one will leave
but actually the other one will leave
but actually the other one will leave something in mind and I think all those
something in mind and I think all those
something in mind and I think all those times I create are just the continuity
times I create are just the continuity
times I create are just the continuity of all those all those human experiences
of all those all those human experiences
of all those all those human experiences few months ago I went to one of the most
few months ago I went to one of the most
few months ago I went to one of the most amazing place I ever visited in my life
amazing place I ever visited in my life
amazing place I ever visited in my life called banshee at NASA which is the
called banshee at NASA which is the
called banshee at NASA which is the neighborhood of the Cairo garbage
neighborhood of the Cairo garbage
neighborhood of the Cairo garbage collector in Egypt when I tell you
collector in Egypt when I tell you
collector in Egypt when I tell you garbage you must ask yourself what can
garbage you must ask yourself what can
garbage you must ask yourself what can be amazing about the garbage city so
be amazing about the garbage city so
be amazing about the garbage city so this Coptic Christian community have
this Coptic Christian community have
this Coptic Christian community have been collecting the garbage of Cairo for
been collecting the garbage of Cairo for
been collecting the garbage of Cairo for decades and they developed one of the
decades and they developed one of the
decades and they developed one of the most powerful recycling system on a
most powerful recycling system on a
most powerful recycling system on a global level but still this community’s
global level but still this community’s
global level but still this community’s seeing scene as dirty marginalized and
seeing scene as dirty marginalized and
seeing scene as dirty marginalized and segregated because of their association
segregated because of their association
segregated because of their association with trash so when you enter the
with trash so when you enter the
with trash so when you enter the neighborhood there’s a smell of the
neighborhood there’s a smell of the
neighborhood there’s a smell of the garbage the noise everything is
garbage the noise everything is
garbage the noise everything is overbearing but it looks chaotic but
overbearing but it looks chaotic but
overbearing but it looks chaotic but everything is perfectly organized so my
everything is perfectly organized so my
everything is perfectly organized so my initial idea was just an artistic
initial idea was just an artistic
initial idea was just an artistic challenge I wanted to to change myself
challenge I wanted to to change myself
challenge I wanted to to change myself by creating an anamorphic piece that you
by creating an anamorphic piece that you
by creating an anamorphic piece that you can fully see from one point of view
can fully see from one point of view
can fully see from one point of view like when you climb the bottom mountain
like when you climb the bottom mountain
like when you climb the bottom mountain this mountain that overlooked the
this mountain that overlooked the
this mountain that overlooked the neighborhood so fast enough I realized
neighborhood so fast enough I realized
neighborhood so fast enough I realized that it was not about this artistic
that it was not about this artistic
that it was not about this artistic challenge it was more about creating
challenge it was more about creating
challenge it was more about creating this human experience in connecting
this human experience in connecting
this human experience in connecting actually with this community that had so
actually with this community that had so
actually with this community that had so misconception about so it took us one
misconception about so it took us one
misconception about so it took us one year to plan the wall project and almost
year to plan the wall project and almost
year to plan the wall project and almost a month to create the to create the art
a month to create the to create the art
a month to create the to create the art piece it was difficult
piece it was difficult
piece it was difficult there was like thank you
so there was like feel like deep doubt
so there was like feel like deep doubt in difficulties fears and stress he was
in difficulties fears and stress he was
in difficulties fears and stress he was it was not easy at all
it was not easy at all
it was not easy at all to work in such an environment you know
to work in such an environment you know
to work in such an environment you know sometime like having pigs under you
sometime like having pigs under you
sometime like having pigs under you because they like original pigs breeder
because they like original pigs breeder
because they like original pigs breeder so they have you have pigs under your
so they have you have pigs under your
so they have you have pigs under your while you paint or you need to climb a
while you paint or you need to climb a
while you paint or you need to climb a stack of garbage to to get on the lift
stack of garbage to to get on the lift
stack of garbage to to get on the lift but you forget about all those difficult
but you forget about all those difficult
but you forget about all those difficult condition because of the kindness of all
condition because of the kindness of all
condition because of the kindness of all those people you know in every floor
those people you know in every floor
those people you know in every floor that we were reaching with those lifts
that we were reaching with those lifts
that we were reaching with those lifts somebody was opening the window offering
somebody was opening the window offering
somebody was opening the window offering us a cup of tea so imagine like when you
us a cup of tea so imagine like when you
us a cup of tea so imagine like when you have like a five storey building you
have like a five storey building you
have like a five storey building you need to drink five cups of tea because
need to drink five cups of tea because
need to drink five cups of tea because in Egypt you cannot send out to tea and
in Egypt you cannot send out to tea and
in Egypt you cannot send out to tea and I think like here it took us like three
I think like here it took us like three
I think like here it took us like three weeks some more than three weeks to
weeks some more than three weeks to
weeks some more than three weeks to finish but it could have gone faster if
finish but it could have gone faster if
finish but it could have gone faster if we didn’t took all those tea breaks so
we didn’t took all those tea breaks so
we didn’t took all those tea breaks so imagine you go at somebody’s house you
imagine you go at somebody’s house you
imagine you go at somebody’s house you knock at his door and you say hey can
knock at his door and you say hey can
knock at his door and you say hey can you serve me a cup of water and today
you serve me a cup of water and today
you serve me a cup of water and today you give me like a can of soda and next
you give me like a can of soda and next
you give me like a can of soda and next week you invite me to your house to have
week you invite me to your house to have
week you invite me to your house to have lunch with you and after two weeks we’re
lunch with you and after two weeks we’re
lunch with you and after two weeks we’re going to play soccer and then go to your
going to play soccer and then go to your
going to play soccer and then go to your cousin’s wedding and after like a month
cousin’s wedding and after like a month
cousin’s wedding and after like a month you will cry when I live the guy will
you will cry when I live the guy will
you will cry when I live the guy will look at you and say you’re crazy but if
look at you and say you’re crazy but if
look at you and say you’re crazy but if you go to somebody’s house and you say
you go to somebody’s house and you say
you go to somebody’s house and you say look I’m an artist I would like to paint
look I’m an artist I would like to paint
look I’m an artist I would like to paint the face out of your building so the
the face out of your building so the
the face out of your building so the first day will offer you like a cup of
first day will offer you like a cup of
first day will offer you like a cup of tea and then after a week you will
tea and then after a week you will
tea and then after a week you will invite you to a twist house and then
invite you to a twist house and then
invite you to a twist house and then after two weeks you’re going to play
after two weeks you’re going to play
after two weeks you’re going to play soccer with him and yeah and then maybe
soccer with him and yeah and then maybe
soccer with him and yeah and then maybe also go to twist family’s wedding and
also go to twist family’s wedding and
also go to twist family’s wedding and and yes and then when you live actually
and yes and then when you live actually
and yes and then when you live actually he might cry and this is exactly what
he might cry and this is exactly what
he might cry and this is exactly what happened
one day a book Oh God thank you yeah
one day a book Oh God thank you yeah manifold justice so it was not it was
manifold justice so it was not it was
manifold justice so it was not it was not about actually this it was not about
not about actually this it was not about
not about actually this it was not about like just an art project it was more
like just an art project it was more
like just an art project it was more like a project to question our level of
like a project to question our level of
like a project to question our level of misconception judgment we can have upon
misconception judgment we can have upon
misconception judgment we can have upon communities that we are that we don’t
communities that we are that we don’t
communities that we are that we don’t know you know today the actually the
know you know today the actually the
know you know today the actually the species starting disappearing because
species starting disappearing because
species starting disappearing because some people are building floors in front
some people are building floors in front
some people are building floors in front of the in front of the art piece and my
of the in front of the art piece and my
of the in front of the art piece and my art by essence is ephemeral you know
art by essence is ephemeral you know
art by essence is ephemeral you know most of the pieces that I created all
most of the pieces that I created all
most of the pieces that I created all around the world has disappeared but
around the world has disappeared but
around the world has disappeared but what gives inside me and most of the
what gives inside me and most of the
what gives inside me and most of the people that I allowed that I met are all
people that I allowed that I met are all
people that I allowed that I met are all those little stories and memories that
those little stories and memories that
those little stories and memories that I’m that I witness you know as a human
I’m that I witness you know as a human
I’m that I witness you know as a human being and I’m able to share with you
being and I’m able to share with you
being and I’m able to share with you today thank you
today thank you
today thank you [Applause]
”
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