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How do you relate as an artist to the Noord project?

I find the project very interesting. I have never worked with mapping before and I am discovering that it can really be a stimulating process. As long as you are mapping a specific place you are not only understanding things about the place in itself, you're understanding new things about yourself. Normally, when you visit a place, you just follow random patterns of interaction. It's only when you're mapping that you become aware of being a tourist exploring new spaces and of these patterns. I'm truly enjoying letting the tourist part of myself come out ...

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So Wietske where did your fascination for food come from?

Isn’t food the most elemental thing... (laughs) No, I have always been interested in experimental gastronomy. I grew up in Tasmania, Australia where my father had his own hobby farm with lots of different birds walking around. Also my dad build his own smoke-house which once in a while we used to smoke our own foods. And this one time a peacock flew through the kitchen window and died. After this my father proposed we should smoke the peacock and eat it. It tasted rather special, not really my taste when I was a little kid. But it started my appetite for s...

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Since 6 months ago you have an office in Noord. First time for you in the part of the city?

Yes, it is true. We just got a nice small office in the Tolhuistuin area. We decided to move there since we are very interested in Noord. There lots of things can still happen, whereas in other parts of the city is not possible. But it is not my first time over the river. Actually, when I first moved to Amsterdam, I got an apartment in Noord. I have to say it was terrible, I was living in an apartment specially built for students that can not afford anything different and/or have no chance to find another place. Students who...

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Similar to other artists involved you are from Cairo too.
What is the most striking difference between Amsterdam-Noord and Cairo?

In the neighbourhood where I live in Cairo as well as here in Noord they’re tearing down a bunch of old houses and constructing new buildings. These two processes of development are, however, quite different. I barely hear or feel any of the work being done in Noord, whereas in Cairo there is a constant notion of the process. I wake up and go to sleep with it there.

I think it is a social difference! In Amsterdam water jets are used to soften the building...

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For the Noord project, you will track down the best Kebab in Noord. Why?

In my work I always try to combine high and low culture. In Turkey this is quite important. We miss the cultural base to relate to art. Everything is either reduced to extremely commercial pop culture, or elitist artistic avant-gard. They are unable to communicate with each other. The gap between high culture and low culture is immense. That’s why I have chosen kebab: everybody can relate to it, and has say something to say about it. I am using it as an image that allows me to communicate and easily get in touch with all different kinds of p...

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Can you tell me about your studies and how you got into graphic design and calligraphy?

I became more serious about it while working on my thesis. I tried to create an Arabic calligraphy in three months. At the same time I was exploring how computers and digital typography rob beautiful calligraphy of their unique characteristics. Arabic script is regarded as holy, because it is in the Qur'an. It has had a slow modern development. I really respect this type. I see letters as fluid shapes, as opposed to Latin-thinking, which considers English typeface static.

How does this affect your work during ...

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