Black bag/Interactive installation/ Plastic bags and items /3m x 2m/2013

The black plastic bag is a common and practical packaging tool in Egyptian shops and markets. Pharmacies and liquor stores, in particular, use it to conceal purchases from public view, aiming to protect privacy and avoid unwanted attention. Paradoxically, this practice often heightens curiosity, prompting passersby to speculate about what the bag contains. Whether the item is clothing, personal goods, or fruit, many Egyptians have grown accustomed to this everyday guessing game.

For this project, a range of commonly purchased objects were collected and placed inside identical black plastic bags, alongside several unexpected items that disrupt familiar social expectations. The work focuses on observing and documenting public reactions when the contents are revealed, examining how secrecy, speculation, and social norms shape everyday interactions in public space.