Q&A with eL Seed, calligraphic street artist

HOW HAS DUBAI INSPIRED YOU?

I grew up in France, the US and Canada, but came to Dubai in 2013. For so long, everything was about the biggest, the craziest, the longest. But when you dig a bit, it’s possible to find another creative side.

DESCRIBE YOUR SIGNATURE STYLE

I work with Arabic calligraphy. I use it as a tool to bring people together, so it has a universal dimension. Although my sculptures focus on Islamic script, people see them as abstract. By presenting pieces in the street, you don’t bring people to art, you bring art to people.

WHAT’S THE STORY BEHIND YOUR MOST FAMOUS SCULPTURE, DECLARATION?

It was a declaration of love to the art of calligraphy, the result of a residency at Tashkeel. I destroyed the first sculpture I made, but Dubai Opera approached me to do a piece in front of the building. What’s important to me is that you can interact with the artwork — people climb on it and birds have even nested on it. elseed-art.com