TED2015
eL Seed: Street art with a message of hope and peace
eL Seed: Arte de rúa cunha mensaxe de paz e esperanza
Filmed:
Readability: 4.2
1,581,298 views
Nacido en Francia, fillo de pais tunisianos, a eL Seed encántalle facer malabares entre múltiples culturas, linguas e identidades. Tamén na súa obra, que introduce poesía árabe nun estilo inspirado na arte urbana e o graffiti. Nesta apaixonada charla, o artista, que tamén é Membro TED, describe a súa ambición central: crear arte tan fermosa que non requira tradución.
eL Seed - Artist
French-Tunisian artist eL Seed blends the historic art of Arabic calligraphy with graffti to portray messages of beauty, poetry and peace across all continents. Full bio
French-Tunisian artist eL Seed blends the historic art of Arabic calligraphy with graffti to portray messages of beauty, poetry and peace across all continents. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:12
In 2012, when I painted
the minaret of Jara Mosque
the minaret of Jara Mosque
0
758
4243
En 2012, cando pintei o minarete
da mesquita de Jara
da mesquita de Jara
00:17
in my hometown of Gabés,
in the south of Tunisia,
in the south of Tunisia,
1
5025
2931
na miña cidade natal de Gabés,
ao sur de Tunisia,
ao sur de Tunisia,
00:19
I never thought that graffiti would bring
so much attention to a city.
so much attention to a city.
2
7980
5267
nunca imaxinei que o graffiti puidese
atraer tanta atención a unha cidade.
atraer tanta atención a unha cidade.
00:25
At the beginning, I was just looking
for a wall in my hometown,
for a wall in my hometown,
3
13271
3926
Ao principio, só buscaba un muro
na miña cidade,
na miña cidade,
00:29
and it happened that the minaret
was built in '94.
was built in '94.
4
17221
3230
e o minarete construírase no 94.
00:33
And for 18 years, those 57 meters
of concrete stayed grey.
of concrete stayed grey.
5
21102
4617
E durante 18 anos, eses 57 metros de
formigón permaneceron grises.
formigón permaneceron grises.
00:38
When I met the imam for the first time,
and I told him what I wanted to do,
and I told him what I wanted to do,
6
26617
3601
Cando coñecín o imán por primeira vez,
e lle dixen o que quería facer,
e lle dixen o que quería facer,
respondeu: "Grazas a Deus
que apareciches por fin",
que apareciches por fin",
00:42
he was like, "Thank God you finally came,"
7
30242
2444
00:44
and he told me that for years
he was waiting for somebody
he was waiting for somebody
8
32710
2807
e contoume que levaba anos esperando
que chegara alguén
que chegara alguén
00:47
to do something on it.
9
35541
1293
que fixese algo con el.
00:49
The most amazing thing about this imam
is that he didn't ask me anything --
is that he didn't ask me anything --
10
37422
4086
O máis sorprendente deste imán
foi que non me pediu nada,
foi que non me pediu nada,
00:53
neither a sketch,
or what I was going to write.
or what I was going to write.
11
41532
3410
nin un bosquexo nin o que ía escribir.
00:57
In every work that I create,
I write messages
I write messages
12
45959
2873
En cada traballo que creo,
escribo mensaxes
escribo mensaxes
01:00
with my style of calligraffiti --
a mix of calligraphy and graffiti.
a mix of calligraphy and graffiti.
13
48856
4123
con meu estilo de "caligraffiti", unha
mestura de caligrafía e graffiti.
mestura de caligrafía e graffiti.
01:05
I use quotes or poetry.
14
53622
1872
Uso citas ou poesía.
01:08
For the minaret, I thought that
the most relevant message
the most relevant message
15
56153
2707
Para o minarete, pensei
que a mensaxe máis relevante
que a mensaxe máis relevante
01:10
to be put on a mosque
should come from the Quran,
should come from the Quran,
16
58884
2616
para unha mesquita
debería proceder do Corán,
debería proceder do Corán,
01:13
so I picked this verse:
17
61524
1611
así que escollín esta estrofa:
01:15
"Oh humankind, we have created you
from a male and a female,
from a male and a female,
18
63159
3240
"Oh, humanos, creámosvos
dun home e dunha muller,
dun home e dunha muller,
01:18
and made you people and tribe,
so you may know each other."
so you may know each other."
19
66423
3415
e fixémosvos pobos e tribos
para que vos puiderades coñecer."
para que vos puiderades coñecer."
01:21
It was a universal call for peace,
tolerance, and acceptance
tolerance, and acceptance
20
69862
3317
Era unha chamada universal á paz,
á tolerancia e á aceptación,
á tolerancia e á aceptación,
01:25
coming from the side that we don't usually
portray in a good way in the media.
portray in a good way in the media.
21
73203
3969
partindo de que non acostumamos ter
unha boa imaxe nos medios.
unha boa imaxe nos medios.
01:29
I was amazed to see how the local
community reacted to the painting,
community reacted to the painting,
22
77661
3768
Sorprendeume ver como reaccionou
a comunidade local perante a pintura,
a comunidade local perante a pintura,
01:33
and how it made them proud to see
the minaret getting so much attention
the minaret getting so much attention
23
81453
4307
e o orgullo que sentían ao ver
que o minarete recibía tanta atención
que o minarete recibía tanta atención
01:37
from international press
all around the world.
all around the world.
24
85784
2705
da prensa internacional do mundo enteiro.
01:41
For the imam, it was not
just the painting;
just the painting;
25
89346
2168
Para o imán, non era só unha pintura;
01:43
it was really deeper than that.
26
91538
1865
era más profundo que iso.
01:45
He hoped that this minaret would become
a monument for the city,
a monument for the city,
27
93427
3437
Esperaba que este minarete fose
un monumento para a cidade,
un monumento para a cidade,
01:48
and attract people
to this forgotten place of Tunisia.
to this forgotten place of Tunisia.
28
96888
2871
e atraese xente
a este lugar esquecido de Tunisia.
a este lugar esquecido de Tunisia.
01:52
The universality of the message,
29
100759
2150
A universalidade da mensaxe,
01:54
the political context
of Tunisia at this time,
of Tunisia at this time,
30
102933
2246
o contexto político de Tunisia
nese momento,
nese momento,
01:57
and the fact that I was writing
Quran in a graffiti way
Quran in a graffiti way
31
105203
3484
o feito de que estaba escribindo
o Corán en estilo de graffiti
o Corán en estilo de graffiti
02:00
were not insignificant.
32
108711
1642
non carecían de significado.
02:02
It reunited the community.
33
110377
2054
Reuniu a comunidade.
02:05
Bringing people, future generations,
34
113559
3014
Reunir xente, futuras xeracións,
02:08
together through Arabic calligraphy
35
116573
3000
a través da caligrafía árabe
02:11
is what I do.
36
119573
1485
é o que fago.
02:13
Writing messages is
the essence of my artwork.
the essence of my artwork.
37
121082
3005
Escribir mensaxes é a esencia
do meu traballo.
do meu traballo.
02:16
What is funny, actually, is that
even Arabic-speaking people
even Arabic-speaking people
38
124896
3151
O que é gracioso é que
incluso a xente que fala árabe
incluso a xente que fala árabe
02:20
really need to focus a lot
to decipher what I'm writing.
to decipher what I'm writing.
39
128071
3835
precisa concentrarse moito para
descifrar o que estou a escribir.
descifrar o que estou a escribir.
02:24
You don't need to know
the meaning to feel the piece.
the meaning to feel the piece.
40
132668
2937
Non fai falla coñecer o significado
para sentir a peza.
para sentir a peza.
02:28
I think that Arabic script touches
your soul before it reaches your eyes.
your soul before it reaches your eyes.
41
136012
3721
Creo que a grafía árabe toca a alma
antes de chegar aos ollos.
antes de chegar aos ollos.
02:31
There is a beauty in it
that you don't need to translate.
that you don't need to translate.
42
139757
3070
Hai beleza nela que non precisa tradución.
02:35
Arabic script speaks to anyone, I believe;
43
143628
2278
A grafía árabe fálalles a todos, creo;
02:37
to you, to you, to you, to anybody,
44
145930
3517
a ti, a ti, a ti, a todo o mundo,
02:41
and then when you get the meaning,
45
149471
1960
e cando entendes o significado,
02:43
you feel connected to it.
46
151431
2004
sénteste conectado con ela.
02:45
I always make sure to write messages
47
153435
2347
Sempre me aseguro de escribir mensaxes
02:47
that are relevant to the place
where I'm painting,
where I'm painting,
48
155806
2371
que sexan relevantes
para o lugar onde pinto,
para o lugar onde pinto,
02:50
but messages that have
a universal dimension,
a universal dimension,
49
158201
3081
pero que sexan mensaxes
cunha dimensión universal,
cunha dimensión universal,
02:53
so anybody around the world
can connect to it.
can connect to it.
50
161306
2742
para que o mundo enteiro
poida conectar con elas.
poida conectar con elas.
02:56
I was born and raised in France, in Paris,
51
164699
2327
Nacín e crieime en Francia, en París,
02:59
and I started learning how to write
and read Arabic when I was 18.
and read Arabic when I was 18.
52
167050
3945
e comecei a aprender a ler e escribir
árabe aos 18 anos.
árabe aos 18 anos.
03:03
Today I only write messages in Arabic.
53
171560
3500
Hoxe só escribo mensaxes en árabe.
03:07
One of the reasons
this is so important to me,
this is so important to me,
54
175084
3197
Unha das razóns polas que isto
é tan importante para min
é tan importante para min
03:10
is because of all the reaction that
I've experienced all around the world.
I've experienced all around the world.
55
178305
3816
é por todas as reaccións
que recibín polo mundo.
que recibín polo mundo.
03:15
In Rio de Janeiro, I translated
this Portuguese poem
this Portuguese poem
56
183700
3906
No Río de Xaneiro, traducín
este poema portugués
este poema portugués
03:19
from Gabriela Tôrres Barbosa,
57
187630
1912
de Gabriela Tôrres Barbosa,
03:21
who was giving an homage
to the poor people of the favela,
to the poor people of the favela,
58
189566
3380
que é unha homenaxe
á xente pobre da favela,
á xente pobre da favela,
03:24
and then I painted it on the rooftop.
59
192970
1968
e despois pinteino nunha terraza.
03:27
The local community were really
intrigued by what I was doing,
intrigued by what I was doing,
60
195367
2913
A comunidade local estaba intrigada
co que estaba a facer,
co que estaba a facer,
03:30
but as soon as I gave them
the meaning of the calligraphy,
the meaning of the calligraphy,
61
198304
3593
mais tan axiña como lles dei
o significado da caligrafía,
o significado da caligrafía,
03:33
they thanked me, as they felt
connected to the piece.
connected to the piece.
62
201921
2929
agradecéronmo porque
se sentiron conectados coa peza.
se sentiron conectados coa peza.
03:38
In South Africa, in Cape Town,
63
206723
1990
En Suráfrica, en Cidade do Cabo,
03:40
the local community of Philippi
64
208737
3049
a comunidade local de Philippi
03:43
offered me the only
concrete wall of the slum.
concrete wall of the slum.
65
211810
3047
ofreceume o único muro
de formigón do suburbio.
de formigón do suburbio.
03:46
It was a school, and I wrote on it
66
214881
2373
Era unha escola e escribín nela
03:49
a quote from Nelson Mandela,
67
217278
1468
unha cita de Nelson Mandela,
03:50
saying, "[in Arabic],"
68
218770
2663
que dicía: [en árabe],
03:53
which means, "It seems
impossible until it's done."
impossible until it's done."
69
221457
2683
que significa
"Parece imposible ata que se fai."
"Parece imposible ata que se fai."
03:56
Then this guy came to me and said,
"Man, why you don't write in English?"
"Man, why you don't write in English?"
70
224489
3585
Un día, achegóuseme un tipo e díxome:
"Por que non escribes en inglés?"
"Por que non escribes en inglés?"
04:00
and I replied to him, "I would consider
your concern legit if you asked me
your concern legit if you asked me
71
228098
4095
e eu respondinlle: "Consideraría lexítima
a túa preocupación se me preguntases
a túa preocupación se me preguntases
04:04
why I didn't write in Zulu."
72
232217
1584
por que non escribo en zulú".
04:06
In Paris, once, there was this event,
73
234912
2144
Unha vez, nun acto en París
04:09
and someone gave his wall to be painted.
74
237080
3906
alguén ofreceu o seu muro para pintalo.
04:14
And when he saw I was painting in Arabic,
75
242016
2357
Cando viu que eu estaba a pintar en árabe,
04:16
he got so mad -- actually, hysterical --
and he asked for the wall to be erased.
and he asked for the wall to be erased.
76
244397
4024
toleou, --de feito, púxose histérico--
e pediu que se borrase a parede.
e pediu que se borrase a parede.
04:20
I was mad and disappointed.
77
248445
1967
Eu estaba enfadado e decepcionado.
04:22
But a week later, the organizer
of the event asked me to come back,
of the event asked me to come back,
78
250436
3877
Mais, unha semana despois, o organizador
do acto pediume que regresara,
do acto pediume que regresara,
04:26
and he told me that there was a wall
right in front of this guy's house.
right in front of this guy's house.
79
254337
3718
e díxome que había un muro
xusto en fronte da casa dese tipo.
xusto en fronte da casa dese tipo.
04:30
So, this guy --
80
258079
1152
Así que, ese tipo...
04:31
(Laughter)
81
259255
2219
(Risas)
04:33
like, was forced to see it every day.
82
261498
2025
ía ter que velo á forza todos os días.
04:35
At the beginning, I was going
to write, "[In Arabic],"
to write, "[In Arabic],"
83
263547
2984
Ao comezo, ía escribir: [en árabe],
04:38
which means, "In your face," but --
84
266555
1991
que significa "Na túa cara", pero...
04:40
(Laughter)
85
268570
2343
(Risas)
04:42
I decided to be smarter
and I wrote, "[In Arabic],"
and I wrote, "[In Arabic],"
86
270937
3659
Decidín ser máis elegante
e escribín "[en árabe]",
e escribín "[en árabe]",
que significa
"Abre o teu corazón."
"Abre o teu corazón."
04:46
which means, "Open your heart."
87
274620
1634
04:49
I'm really proud of my culture,
88
277095
3076
Estou moi orgulloso da miña cultura,
04:52
and I'm trying to be an ambassador
of it through my artwork.
of it through my artwork.
89
280195
5515
e tento ser un embaixador
a través da miña arte.
a través da miña arte.
04:57
And I hope that I can break
the stereotypes we all know,
the stereotypes we all know,
90
285734
4936
Espero poder romper os estereotipos
que todos coñecemos,
que todos coñecemos,
05:02
with the beauty of Arabic script.
91
290694
1774
coa beleza da grafía árabe.
05:05
Today, I don't write the translation
of the message anymore on the wall.
of the message anymore on the wall.
92
293207
5448
Hoxe en día, xa non escribo
a tradución da mensaxe no muro.
a tradución da mensaxe no muro.
05:11
I don't want the poetry
of the calligraphy to be broken,
of the calligraphy to be broken,
93
299148
3677
Non quero romper a poesía da caligrafía.
05:14
as it's art and you can appreciate it
without knowing the meaning,
without knowing the meaning,
94
302849
3181
e como é arte podes apreciala
sen coñecer o significado,
sen coñecer o significado,
05:18
as you can enjoy any music
from other countries.
from other countries.
95
306054
3036
igual que podes gozar
da música doutros países.
da música doutros países.
05:21
Some people see that
as a rejection or a closed door,
as a rejection or a closed door,
96
309630
3775
Hai xente que o ve como
un rexeitamento ou unha porta pechada,
un rexeitamento ou unha porta pechada,
05:25
but for me, it's more an invitation --
97
313429
2469
mais, para min, é máis unha invitación
05:27
to my language,
to my culture, and to my art.
to my culture, and to my art.
98
315922
3279
á miña lingua, á miña cultura,
á miña arte.
á miña arte.
05:31
Thank you.
99
319225
1158
Grazas.
(Aplausos)
05:32
(Applause)
100
320407
2852
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
eL Seed - ArtistFrench-Tunisian artist eL Seed blends the historic art of Arabic calligraphy with graffti to portray messages of beauty, poetry and peace across all continents.
Why you should listen
Born in Paris to Tunisian parents, eL Seed travels the world, making art in Paris, New York, Jeddah, Melbourne, Gabes, Doha and beyond. His goal: to create dialogue and promote tolerance as well as change global perceptions of what Arabic means. In 2012, for instance, he painted a message of unity on a 47-meter-high minaret on the Jara mosque in Gabes, Tunisia. This piece and others can be found in his book, Lost Walls: Graffiti Road Trip through Tunisia
Most recently he created a sprawling mural in the Manshiyat Naser neighborhood of Cairo that spans 50 buildings and can only be viewed from a local mountaintop. Intending to honor the historic garbage collectors of the Manshiyat Naser neighborhood, the piece reads, "Anyone who wants to see the sunlight clearly needs to wipe his eye first."
eL Seed | Speaker | TED.com