Nour Elkady

Your work often explores memory and intimacy. Can you share a specific memory or moment that sparked this ongoing theme in your art?

One of my projects during my university years was about relationships. I started to delve into the idea of relationships which brought me to memory and intimacy. I later realized that these themes organically found their way into most of my work, because I think that memory and intimacy are interconnected with so many other universal themes.

What draws you to collage as a medium? How does the process of cutting and assembling fragments help you express complex emotions?

I think Collage or the process of cutting and assembling fragments makes me feel more present and part of the process. I feel like having everything physical and tangible in front of me somehow nourishes my creativity and it makes me think more clearly.

The textures and layering in your work create a tactile, almost archival feeling. How important is physicality and touch in your creative process?

I call myself a traditional artist because I rarely work digitally. Physical touch is very important to me when it comes to my work. I love being able to feel the materials I’m working with. One of the reasons why I don’t work digitally is that I feel disconnected to what I’m doing most of the time. As I said before the sense of touch feeds my creativity. Also, nearly all of my favorite work that I’ve created so far are made with tactile materials. I feel like I work better that way.

“Fragments of Intimacy” is a deeply emotional series. How do you decide which found images to use, and do you search for them with specific emotions in mind?

“Fragments of Intimacy” was a project I really enjoyed working on. I generally had a clear idea about what I wanted to create. While searching for images, I was looking for something that is relatable and normal, nothing lavish. For example, I wanted an everyday normal looking sofa, not too big not too small in size. I wanted the collage to feel like it could be your living room or it may look like your friend’s apartment. Another thing I kept in mind was the colors, it can’t be too bright. Every detail about the collage had to feel normal and believable.

There’s a strong narrative quality in your collages, though it’s subtle and open-ended. Do you approach each piece like a story?

“Fragments of Intimacy” was interesting because in my head I imagined I was making a card game for emotions. Obviously, each collage is a different card and you can put the cards in the order that you see fit. I created my own storyline to match each collage, each piece is a different story with different moods and emotions. I wanted each piece of collage to be separate from the others yet similar. This is one of the reasons why I enjoyed this project because you can interpret it however you like.

How do domestic spaces or everyday objects become carriers of memory in your work?

I truly feel like sometimes the less the better. I think that objects in general are underrated in art. As artists, I feel like when it comes to the human psyche we are always looking to show or interpret the unseen. Whereas, sometimes what’s in front of us can portray more than we think. Everyday objects are witnesses to all our emotions. There is also a big link between objects and our memory and feelings. That is why I decided to use them as metaphors for our inner experiences.

Do you see your work as a form of visual diary? How do personal and universal themes intersect in your collages?

Yes, I feel like my art is a form of visual diary but I think that applies to all artists whether your aware of that or not. Everything you create will always have some trace of you in it. My personal experiences always intersect in my work. Sometimes I begin with a personal experience and other times they may come to me mid process. For example, the collage with the bed and a pair of eyes, that collage began with a personal experience.