Islamic calligraphy has evolved alongside Islam and the Arabic language. Based on Arabic letters, it is associated with geometric Islamic art, found on the walls and ceilings of mosques. For French-Tunisian street artist, eL Seed, Arabic calligraphy is a way of connecting with his heritage and culture. It is also a vehicle for spreading a message of peace.
His unique style incorporates Arabic calligraphy with graffiti, adding a modern twist on the ancient tradition—a style he calls “calligraffiti”.
“I’m a Middle Eastern street artist,” said eL Seed in an interview with Savoir Flair. “You always have to prove something. There are several levels of it. My point is to not get rid of that categorization; I know my roots and the roots of my art are the street, and the roots of my art are Arabic, but bringing it to a level where people don’t look at me as only this is the biggest challenge. Step by step, I am trying to work on that.”
Indeed, his work spreads a message of unity, with the aim to unify communities and break stereotypes. As such, his chosen style (not quite calligraphy art, not quite graffiti art), tackles the boundaries between high brow art and street art.
“The audience has yet to understand that the best artists could be street artists,” says eL Seed. He also stressed that street artists and artists don’t have to be separate categories.
To prove his point, eL Seed showcases his work both in exhibitions and public spaces. His projects include painting the façade of L’Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris, the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, and many other amazing works!
