Video

Barsha Kalam (A Lot Of TALKS)
Video, 43 mins, Tunisia, 2017

As an Egyptian living in Berlin, I found myself grappling with questions about contemporary Arab lifestyles—not only within my personal circles but also on a broader societal level. This reveals a striking need for a deeper understanding of the modern Arab world. Determined to explore these issues, I chose Tunisia for its atmosphere of transformation and breakthrough. During my time there, I focused primarily on young people from diverse backgrounds and upbringings. They welcomed me not only into their homes but also into their thoughts and emotions. The conversations featured in the video highlight candid discussions about freedom, religion, politics, and sexuality. These conversations were both revealing and reflective of some aspects of their lives. “Barsha” is a Tunisian Arabic word that means “a lot.”

_{To watch the video, please contact the artist (Arabic with English subtitles).}

About Paradise
Video, 22 min, Mecca, Santiago de Compostela, 2014

In this video, we listen to testimonies collected from Egypt and Germany (the two cultures I live between). The participants share their personal and culturally influenced imaginations of what might come after death, as well as their conceptions of the idea of paradise. The film interweaves these narratives with scenes I captured during the two pilgrimages—to Mecca and the Way of Saint James.
These kinds of journeys—rooted in history and predating these religions—represent the path to God and the hope of attaining the reward of the promised paradise.

_{To watch the video, please contact the artist (auch mit deutschem Untertitel)}

A Book
Drawings, pen on paper, (video loop), 2014

A book stands as a symbol of orientation that influences perceptions. It declares, describes, instructs, and opens spaces for diverse interpretations.
Whether its essence remains undistorted or it gets diverted, it affects thoughts about life and what lies beyond it. The book includes an idea that may turn into a belief and then into a faith until it becomes “the truth”. Over time, a book can become an everlasting idea or gradually vanish.
A book flies in the air to settle into the right or left hand or to remain hanging in the sky, carrying names and traveling through place and time

Monologue
Video and found footage, 4:50 mins, Cairo, 2010

Archival made-for-TV nationalist song clips and dance performances are deliberately combined with everyday urban scenes and abstract sound. The video footage offers a glimpse of a mundane present time and a generic persona, without discernible intent or concrete narrative, creating a striking contrast to the highly intentional gestures of popular nationalist entertainment. While the songs evoke strong nostalgic amusement, they also embody national collective memory and emotional resonance. In contrast, the urban footage appears almost laconic—without from illusions or pretensions.

“Spiral – Barking Dogs”
Two-channel video installation,loop, Bern, 2010

“Spiral – Barking Dogs” is part of the installation “Spiral,” which explores mechanisms of conflict. A spiral typically emerges from a single point, expanding and intensifying like fire or a rolling snowball. It can become entangled and spread like cancer, or unfold with agility and precision. As a complex structure, the tension between its lines is difficult to resolve—whether as an internal struggle or a multi-layered external one. This fluid dynamic continuously seeks escalation, drawing toward its core or shifting into an undefined state within its infinite possibilities.

The two dogs barking at each other seem trapped in an endless confrontation. Their relentless barking fills the space with a loud intensity

Time For Making Cake
2:45 min, Arabic & Danish, Kopenhagen, 2006

A photo album unfolds to the sound of flowing water, as a stream of consciousness reflects on the life stages and memories captured in the photographs of a Danish woman baking a cake for her retirement party.

In a dialogue without translation, between two individuals who cannot understand each other’s languages:
The narrator asks (in Arabic) how long it takes to bake the cake. She replies (in Danish), noting that this time it will take longer. When the narrator inquires why, she explains that she is hosting a tea party for her friends to celebrate her retirement.

The interplay of languages and the act of baking subtly highlight the passage of time, as the personal reflection on life’s milestones intersects with a moment of cultural exchange, revealing both differences and shared understanding.