In Residence
When I arrived at Qursaya, I was surprised to discover it hosted a community of artists on this small island, which is mainly inhabited by farmers and fishermen. This work focuses on two of these creatives. It was fascinating how they utilized space in a manner very distinct from other islanders. Their studio spaces appeared invisible, unseen, and unbeknownst to other islanders, except, of course, when making their way into the general islander banter. It seemed the islanders were fascinated by and welcoming of their community artists. The more time I spent on Qursaya, the clearer it became to me that the artists themselves also adored the peaceful environment and its placement, the off-the-grid way of life, and the Nile River in close proximity, isolating this little piece of paradise. Like many artists, they seemed to take inspiration from their surroundings, both craving solitude yet still needing a connection to the outside world. This connection came through their daily social interactions on the island, which is still in close proximity to Cairo. Intrigue led to further exploration and meeting two resident artists, Dr. Faisal Sayed Ahmed and Carole Isler.
Part of the „Clean Nile“ project (FH Dortmund and German University Cairo) & Symposium „Sustainible Water Future“ in Naturmuseum Dortmund (20.12.2023)
