eL Seed on Calligraphy, Identity, and Public Art in Tunisia

In an interview with Artribune, French-Tunisian artist eL Seed discusses his calligraphic practice, which he describes as a universal form of poetry bridging cultures and generations. Born and raised in France to Tunisian parents, eL Seed experienced an identity crisis during adolescence, initially rejecting his French heritage. Learning Arabic calligraphy helped him reconcile his multiple identities—Arab, Tunisian, and French. His large-scale public artworks, often in marginalized neighborhoods, emerge from deep research into a site's history and community dialogue. He avoids naive political messages, focusing instead on creating connections through his work. For projects like 'Perception' in Cairo's Manshiyat Nasr district, he secured permission from the local Coptic priest rather than official authorities. eL Seed notes that obtaining permits for spontaneous projects can sometimes be easier after the work is completed.