For the past couple of weeks, everyone has been expressing their concern about the rise of the dollar price in the parallel markets. And by “expressing concern”, I mean whining, complaining and objecting. Especially after the banks made it even worse and announced their new travel rules.
And as you can imagine, another wave of negativity has been creeping up on us, knowing that everything is going to get expensive, and even if it hasn’t been affected by the dollar, it will still be used as an excuse.
That’s not even mentioning the political and social troubles we’ve been enduring lately. But in the midst of all this negativity, an Egyptian photographer, Mohamed El Dib, has taken it as an opportunity to express his thoughts through creative photographs surrounding the one pound note.
Ever since El Dib was a little kid, he’s always had a love for the one pound note and saved the new ones he received each Eid as a 3edeya.
With his love for the Egyptian one pound note, El Dib started a creative series of photos surrounding the one pound note to open a discussion concerning our perception of the issue at hand and the economic, social and political problems we’re facing.
“I believe that the only way to change the world is by changing our perspective. And when you come to think of it, you’ll realize that nothing is really what it seems, but rather how you choose to perceive it,”Dibo tells us.
For the first five posts, El Dib has explained the concept behind each photo and invites those interested to discuss their views and understandings on the topic. In the last five posts below, we were lucky enough to get them before he posted them and so, in attempt to spread his incredible ideas, I will explain the way I perceive his artwork and the message the artwork sends to me, and invite you to do the same in the comments section.
To find out what the purpose of the artwork was or what the Egyptian pound represented, follow Mohamed El Dib’s #EjibshanBound series on instagram here.
McPound
“I have noticed that many people are whining about the Egyptian Pound’s devaluation and the status of the economy.
I decided not to whine about it.
Over the period of the next 30 days, I will be creating, and sharing, my own form of art to express how I feel about this whole thing.
My hashtag is #EjibshanBound, so follow it or follow me if you’re interested in my views on the economy.
I’ll be happy to discuss the depth behind every piece, so please say your views, express your thoughts, and share your ideas!
Some of these posts may be funny, some of them may be sad, some bittersweet. Others will make you happy, others melancholic, and some may even offend you.
This is what art is all about; it’s meant to make you FEEL something. So if you’re feeling anything, this will make me happy.
Let me know what you think!
Cheers!” – Mohamed El Dib
Minds and Faces
“It is sad that so many people have traded who they are, what they do for fun, and their ingenuity for selfish gains.
People set their minds aside, they put their true faces away, and all they want to do is own things.
And instead of owning things, they end up being owned by the pound. And not only do their heads get filled with the need to make more and consume more, it becomes a lot bigger than its original shape and form.” – Mohamed El Dib
Tea Is Not Really Tea | الشاي مش شاي بجد
“Tea has many meanings in Egypt, with real tea being the most shallow concept of all. Hence, tea is rarely really the tea that we drink.
When someone asks you, ‘Where is my tea?’ He usually means that he wants a tip, or money of some sort. It boggles me why and how it started, but it’s very well known around here.
When someone is corrupt, and accepts bribes, he is said to have drank tea with jasmine. (And when someone wants to bribe someone else, they verbally offer them tea with jasmine!)
Many homes cannot live without dipping biscuits in tea with milk. And they hate it when the biscuit is soaked in the liquid and falls in the mug.
Tea does not really mean tea. Tea means money a lot of the time.
فين الشاي بتاعي يا باشا؟
تشرب شاي بالياسمين؟” – Mohamed El Dib
Colour Palette
“Money is only usually good as a colour palette! The Egyptian Pound is given so much emphasis in our lives that many people don’t see past this. The Pound is just the colour palette; it should only add the extra colour to our lives.
It is not the artist.
It is not the canvas.
It is just the colour palette.
Besides, it doesn’t work as anything but a colour palette, because *sigh* it’s not worth much.” -Mohamed El Dib
Going Down the Drain
“We think we’re in sturdy boats,
We think we’re inside a big thing that floats,
But it is just made of paper.
Paper absorbs water.
We’re struggling not to go down the drain though. We’re being smashed and washed and pushed around. Bullied even.
We’re cleaned and dirtied, and spat on. It’s this boat we think we’re in. It’s this boat that gives us the illusion that we can swim!
Let’s climb out of there, but we can’t do that while in a boat made of paper; we mustn’t get out of the problem the same way we used to get into it. Let’s think new. Let’s think fresh.
Next time a plane, maybe? Next time can we make the water stop?
Maybe if we clog the pipes, we can rise and have a better chance at salvation, instead of stagnation?” – Mohamed El Dib
We Will Speak Even If They Shut Us Up
We’re a generation of revolutionaries. We grew up forced to accept a million things without even questioning its authenticity. But step by step, we started to object and realize that our voices, when heard, can make a huge difference. We’ve been forced to shut up again, but it doesn’t mean we actually will. When we have something to say, we’ll no longer be able to keep it in, regardless of the means we choose to express it. After all, we are human. Don’t let anyone stop you. – Nada Kabil
Everybody Can See You
The Ace of Spades as we know is the one with the most power. But we tend to forget that having power and being a great leader should go hand in hand. We cut corners to reach that place of power, only to cut more corners and break more rules, but we forget that having power means all eyes are on you. We forget to lead by example and use that power to the benefits of more than just ourselves. And just like everyone can see the bad, they can see the good, too. #BeTheChange – Nada Kabil
Hanging Our Dirty Laundry
There’s an expression in Egypt that we use, “nashar ghasilo” or “hanshor ghasilo”, which represents exposing one’s sins or wrong doings. We ridicule ourselves, our country and those around us, forgetting that we invite outsiders to not only see our mistakes, but also make a laughing stock out of us.
Maybe it’s time to learn from our mistakes, be smart in the actions we take and choose to publicize. But most importantly, have a sense of loyalty and unite to stand together, rather than take each other down. #KefayaNashrGhaseel #BeUnderstanding #WhatHappensInEgyptStaysInEgypt – Nada Kabil
What Everything Has Become – Ramadan Included
Ramadan used to be the Holy month, filled with spirituality. The month that brought us together and brought us closer to God. But over the past few years, it has turned into the craziest mosalsalat and the latest red-velvet creation .
The pound we used to generously give away to the needy has been multiplied times 100 and instead of it going to those in need, it goes to some superficial hype of the latest items that are on the trending list.
When will we stop following trends blindly and dig deeper into important issues rather than choose to stay in this little bubble we call life? #SnapOut – Nada Kabil
What Do We Fill Ourselves With
Nothing is really what it seems, but really how we perceive it. What is sushi other than rice, a dash of seafood and cucumbers or avocado? But we’ve positioned it in a way that we perceive it as something we look forward to, something fancy, something we’re willing to pay money for.
If it’s all in the way we perceive things, then isn’t it time to change the mindset of the Egyptian pound and position it in a way that will make it more valuable than it actually is? It’s all a game, and may the odds ever be in our favour. – Nada Kabil
Follow Mohamed El Dib here to find out his perspective and interpretation and tell us how these images made you feel in the comments below.
WE SAID THIS: Don’t miss What 5 EGP Can Buy Across the World.