Ramsco's Women Empowerment Initiative Recognized Among Top BRICS Businesswomen Practices for 2025    Egypt, Elsewedy review progress on Ain Sokhna phosphate complex    Gold prices end July with modest gains    Pakistan says successfully concluded 'landmark trade deal' with US    Egypt's FM, US envoy discuss Gaza ceasefire, Iran nuclear talks    Modon Holding posts AED 2.1bn net profit in H1 2025    Egypt's Electricity Ministry says new power cable for Giza area operational    Egypt's Al-Sisi, Italian defence minister discuss Gaza, security cooperation    Egypt's FM discusses Gaza, Nile dam with US senators    Aid airdrops intensify as famine deepens in Gaza amid mounting international criticism    Health minister showcases AI's impact on healthcare at Huawei Cloud Summit    On anti-trafficking day, Egypt's PM calls fight a 'moral and humanitarian duty'    Federal Reserve maintains interest rates    Egypt strengthens healthcare partnerships to enhance maternity, multiple sclerosis, and stroke care    Egypt keeps Gaza aid flowing, total tops 533,000 tons: minister    Indian Embassy to launch cultural festival in Assiut, film fest in Cairo    Egyptian aid convoy heads toward Gaza as humanitarian crisis deepens    Culture minister launches national plan to revive film industry, modernise cinematic assets    Rafah Crossing 'never been closed for one day' from Egypt: PM    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Egypt, Oman discuss environmental cooperation    Egypt's EDA explores pharma cooperation with Belarus    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Flaming up Cairo''s walls: Q&A with anonymous street artist Al-Teneen
Published in Almasry Alyoum on 19 - 07 - 2011

At the beginning, it was a pair of young street artists that constituted “Team Al-Teneen” (Dragon Team). Now the anonymous stencil artist is pretty much by himself.
Al-Teneen's works add color to the grim walls of the Cairo metropolis, yet they also have a strong political undertone. A newcomer to the street art scene, his stencils, such as the chessboard image on the wall of the American University in Cairo's (AUC) Tahrir campus, have become icons of the 25 January revolution.
Prior to the revolution, he directed his creative talent to abstract painting, although his studies were closer to the field of science (he doesn't want to reveal too much about his life). From the beginning of the revolution, however, he's taken part in street art, a new trend, getting himself entangled in Egyptian politics by accident.
The way he carefully guards his identity reminds us of the UK street artist Banksy. Still, he agreed to talk to Al-Masry Al-Youm about his ongoing projects and how he got started.
Al-Masry Al-Youm: How did you get started and why?
Al-Teneen: It all started on 26 January, when I was at a protest. I thought that even if the revolution didn't succeed, there should be traces of it left for people to see. I never did any street art before, and stencil was a good compromise because it was quick and easy. I started with a picture of Mubarak, which was great fun.
It became a new way to express myself. Before, the internet was the only place where we could honestly converse. On the street, we simply couldn't talk freely, especially not about Mubarak. Through street art, freedom of expression moved from virtual space to the real world.
Al-Masry: What is the aim of your work?
Al-Teneen: Even though I don't like politics or to be anywhere near it, I feel like I have to talk about it. When we got started, our message was very political. And even now, I think my graffiti is more political than others'. In general, I don't have a theme; I just put something on a wall to make people think.
Al-Masry: Do you get any feedback from people?
Al-Teneen: Not really, certainly because I'm anonymous. I talk to people while spraying, but people don't care who I am; they are curious because it's usually the first time they see graffiti being done. They often ask about the meaning of the image. Although I give them an answer, they usually have their own interpretations.
Al-Masry: How long does it take you to make a stencil?
Al-Teneen: It takes time to find an idea that I'd like to work on. First I pick a topic, then play with it in my head: then I draw it on paper and play with it again. While I'm cutting out the stencil, I think about where I'm going to do it. It goes where I want it to go. The chessboard image on the wall of the AUC Tahrir campus, for instance, was done very quickly. It was one small stencil that we reused a few times to get the final result. I usually have a couple of friends who help me out with the spraying.
Al-Masry: And how much does it cost?
Al-Teneen: It's fairly cheap; what's necessary is a spray can that costs around LE10 and a big piece of paper for the stencil, which is the same price. I can get them from stationary shops across the city, and it's great because it's not a very expensive hobby.
Al-Masry: The chessboard image is pretty famous, what does it mean to you?
Teneen: It has several interpretations, and I don't particularly think that mine is the only right one. To me it means that something has changed. The point is that all the pawns are on one side, and the king is upside down; the people and the army protected the revolution. Some might disagree and interpret it in a different way. That's the cool thing about art.
Al-Masry: How is the street art scene treating you?
Al-Teneen: I do know a couple of street artists, but it's hard because I'm anonymous. I really like some of the graffiti in Cairo. I actually made a piece with the contribution of Sad Panda (another stencil street artist); we both added something to each other's work, which was quite fun. As for the international scene, to be honest I don't know much about it. I'm familiar with Banksy's work and at the beginning he was my main source of inspiration; that's why my works were simple and monochromatic.
Al-Masry: What are your plans for the future?
Al-Teneen: Even though I'm not a fan of politics, I am getting more and more into it. But, I would also like to turn my work into something more social and provocative. Sex and religion are hot topics, and they should reach the streets. Egyptians have narrow views about these issues and I want to upset them and make them think.


Clic here to read the story from its source.