Am I Changing or Is the World Changing?
The first piece, "The World Outside the Borders of My Bed," depicts the initial stage or reaction to the epidemic. During this time, I felt as though all my dreams and future goals were crumbling, leaving me with nowhere to turn but to my bed. I found myself unable to tear my eyes away from the news, experiencing growing fears with each passing day. Simple acts, such as touching, transformed into horrific acts now labeled as "things taken for granted." Trusting even your own touch, such as your hands on your face, became a challenge.
The second piece, "Hysteria," reflects the state I experienced when going to the supermarket during the initial days of the lockdown. Everyone was wearing masks and gloves, purchasing more than necessary, assuming these were their last days. It's frightening to live in a third-world country at such times, where the government fails to provide clear information about the situation due to prioritizing the economy over the well-being of citizens.
The third piece, “The Self and the Other,” highlights the positive aspect of acknowledging the pandemic and the subsequent isolation. Human beings always find ways to communicate and share feelings and ideas with one another, which is the foundation of humanity. Examples include video calls, sharing artwork, online training courses, free live music concerts, and free movies. All of these are considered blessings during such difficult times.
"Am I Changing or Is the World Changing?" project was selected for the Roznama 8th exhibition. Organized by Medrar for Contemporary Art, Roznama is a competition and exhibition for contemporary visual art that encourages the breaking of popular and academic boundaries in established arts to experimental and novel media arts practices. It encompasses the full spectrum of visual art forms, including traditional, avant-garde, and everything in between, ranging from photography, moving images, painting, installations to digital art and mixed media creations by Egyptian artists under the age of 35.
Throughout its eight editions, Roznama's purpose has been to support and nurture the growth of new young artists, further enabling their technical capabilities, and exhibiting their works in the creative industry sphere.
© 2026 Amal Hamed. All rights reserved.
