For the artwork “traces”,  I sought to capture the essence of a profound encounter with a Bedouin poet and artist I met in Tunisia during the project lost walls ,” eL Seed explains. “The calligraphy itself carries the timeless words of wisdom bestowed upon me by the Bedouin sage: ‘A man who didn’t leave a trace, didn’t have a life.’ These words resonated deeply within me, igniting a profound reflection on the significance of leaving our mark on the world.

As travellers, we embark on journeys to explore new horizons, to immerse ourselves in diverse cultures and traditions. Initially, I believed that my artistic projects would be the legacy I’d leave behind, etching my own trace in the tapestry of life. Yet, the Bedouin’s wisdom gradually unveiled a different truth — that the people we encounter on our journeys, the stories we collect and the memories we create are the marks they leave on us.

As an artist, I am still driven to leave my own trace, in hopes that someone, somewhere, will follow the path I endeavour to pave. Through my art, I aim to immortalise these moments of connection and enlightenment, before they too fade into the shifting sands of time. In these mesmerising sand dunes, I found inspiration, and through my visual language, I leave behind a testament to the enduring beauty of human connection and the wisdom of those we meet along our journeys.”