The Blue Wadi I (2019)
InstallationJoined by imagination, the past and future unfold in a multi-medium project inspired by personal diaries for an exploratory adventure amidst desert landscapes. "The blue wadi" brings together a human and a creature, named Furito, in an expedition of reading and deconstructing the surrounding environment, infiltrating its future with fictional dialogues, on a journey towards the unknown.“The Blue Wadi” explored the Wadi Degla protectorate desert landscapes in Cairo during a hike, spanning a period of 9 days, Furito and El feky, documented and recorded their first encounters with each other, themselves, strange creatures, in this land. The final outcome is comprised of video, photography, sculpture, and informative signage; mixing fiction and reality, while showcasing its unique inhabitants and geology.
Wild Pirate
As Verito and I called him. This is a model of a creature which attacked us while we sat to take a break from walking. They surrounded us from all directions, and after failed attempts of discussion, we were able to leave their land safely. We figured that they were plowers of the desert, they stay in burrows and emerge when there is booty. He is a creature of great mystery. Although we had a charged encounter with him, we could not identify any of his qualities, not even the way he communicated with his clan.
The Treaty of the Bats’ Cave
After our defeat in surviving by ourselves, we had many discussions that led to a subsequent vote to figure out a safe way through the valley. Furito and I participated in this vote, as well as some of our new friends from the valley. The vote led us to decide to resort to a third party to guide us on our journey.
The Treaty was settled after two weeks of negotiations between the first party, Furito and I, and the second party, the clan of bats that inhabited most of the valley, who are heirs of the land and are considered its central power.
After overcoming our fears of being exploited, distracted, or disrupted, we took some precautions to ensure our safety, such as maintaining an equal share of benefits and complying to review the provisions of the treaty every 10 days.
The treaty demands the collection of fresh cherries that produce a magical substance only during the day - if eaten at night, however, it only yields 10% of its benefit - and those who collected it before us where the pigeons who in return got to stay on top of the caves, but the bats got bored of their treaty with the pigeons. So we took advantage of this opportunity. We agreed to provide cherries to the bats in exchange for their protection of us, allowing us to reside in their lands and their guidance of the way at night.
Furito
There is not enough capacity in my memory to save a lot of information, and the situation worsens when I am in a violent, controlling environment, as this increases my stress and confusion in the ways of learning, prudence, and decision-making. It also disrupts my memory, forgetfulness, and recollection, including the ability to store and remember information, using and comprehending language, visual and spatial skills to draw, recognizing shapes, and navigating spaces. My thinking becomes fluid and foggy, all the information I have starts to evanesce, so it seems like a vision or a dream.
Risk Precautions
Furtito suggested that full masks should be made to face dangers and conceal our true identity. Not only did his proposal help us to hide or camouflage, but it also helped us blend into our surroundings. We used it as protection from harsh weather, for sentimental purposes, and of course for political and reprisal purposes; the mask sometimes took the form of an animal to channel the power of that animal.
The mask of intimidation takes the form of a ferocious desert animal. We used it for hunting, passing through threatening lands, when accompanying those in power, in confrontations, and imposition of authority, self-defense, and defense of other frail animals or to eat them occasionally.
Its effect is only applicable in areas where there is specific food on which this organism survives.
The mask of intermixing with the surrounding environment is used when feeling weak, defeated, fear, the need to escape from reality or escape from punishment, denial, and the desire not to communicate with others.
Applicable only in certain climatic and light conditions that will help it achieve this intermixing.
