341080/installation​/shovel & ink and photography/450cm x 200cm/2014

My artistic practice explores the concept of readymade objects, intentionally leaving only a minimal mark on them. I often work with everyday items from Egyptian culture—objects that carry social significance—recontextualizing them to highlight their inherent value and utility.

The piece *341080* features an ordinary shovel, yet its wooden handle holds personal meaning: it once served as my means of self-defense against thugs during the Egyptian revolution. Engraved on the handle are dates and statistics (in Arabic) referencing a historic national project in Egypt. The title, *341080*, signifies the number of laborers who lost their lives during its construction.