Arts Lab 6.0: Salma ElGendy - Month 1

On the 18th of September 2024, a Wednesday, I started my journey towards a long-awaited opportunity. After 4 years of closed doors, I finally found one ajar.

Meeting Sona and taking the same flight and bus together was a much-needed companionship, turning everything that would’ve probably given me sky-rocketing anxiety had I been alone, into a hilarious situation.

The first couple of days felt a bit foreign. Arriving a bit later, I felt like an onlooker, distanced from a group already connected. However, that feeling vanished just as quickly as it appeared thanks to how amazing and inclusive the group was. Well, is.

Before our official start, we went to a few events that served as a nice ice-breaker of sorts. I think I enjoyed the Book Launch the most. Experiencing the traditional welcome of Romanians was extremely heart-warming and quite interesting to witness, but the event also struck a personal chord for me. My brother is working on a memoir, and I couldn’t help but picture myself in the audience, watching him in that author chair, in his own book launch, telling his story, our story. Just the thought had me filled me with excitement and brimming with immense pride.

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The first time we went to Iași, we found ourselves sitting on the pavement at the train station, making up the weirdest song while waiting for the train. It was such an entertaining moment and got me thinking of how amazing it is to have this many creative people in one space. We walked over 20,000 steps that day, but I enjoyed every bit of it. At the French Institute event, I ended up socializing with far more people than I’d expected, and I’m really proud of that. One of my personal goals during this experience is to push myself to network and engage with more people, so this felt like a step in the right direction.

At the end of the day, we went to Jud Shaorma (Or shawerma as we say it), and to my surprise, they turned out to be Egyptian. They were incredibly hospitable, telling me to reach out anytime if I ever needed anything. They’ve been in Iași for a long time, and their kindness really touched me. Plus, I got free fries and a drink, which was a nice little bonus!

The second trip to Iași was for Gallery Night. We split into two groups and explored on different days, following a map and collecting stickers at each gallery we visited. It was a very new and - as a huge gallery and arts lover - extremely exciting experience for me and I really enjoyed it! However, my joints were screaming by the end of the day after breaking our steps record and walking over 23,000 steps :’)

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We started with the Moldova School Residency for JEMOM. I was feeling both nervous and excited. On one hand, the prospect of working with visually impaired children—something entirely new to me—was intimidating, adding to that the language barrier too. On the other, I was eager to learn more about them and share my passion for clay and ceramics, hoping they would feel the same magic I do.

Working in pairs for the first residency was a relief, and Luca was a great partner. Working with kids needed A LOT of energy, but watching them create was joyful. It definitely didn’t go as “planned” but we still managed to get some beautiful creations, and having them just enjoy the workshop became my main goal. I wanted them to create freely and decided to do my best afterwards to turn their creations into something that can be used for the lanterns we originally planned to create with them. I’m excited to see the lanterns we put together light up, knowing they’re a product of our shared creativity.

By the end of the residency, though, I was overwhelmed, and because we had been so busy, it took me a while to figure out why. The evening before, we had discussed our personal artwork ideas for JEMOM, and it hit me how conflicted I felt. I’ve been wrestling with a deep inner struggle—wanting to create a piece that captures a shared human suffering, yet not being able to ignore the ongoing genocide in Palestine. It's impossible to fully separate the two for me, especially with the violence now extending into Lebanon and Yemen. How could I create art that speaks of one atrocity without acknowledging the others? The fear of the museum’s future development and my art being used in the wrong context weighed heavily on both my heart and mind. 

I decided I must strike a balance. My artwork for the museum will reflect the tragedy in Târgu Frumos, but I will also make my stance clear, so there’s no room for misinterpretation or misuse. I cannot let my contribution be twisted into something that goes against my values.

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Folcloristica Festival was a blast! It was so vibrant and filled with tradition and fun. The clay workshop I did alongside Ella went better than I imagined and I am eager to start working on the mural with the tiles created by the students.

One of the highlights for me was being on the jury for The Most Beautiful Village Contest. It was such an honor, and I’m so excited to start working on the trophy for the winning village!

I would say that the second day of the festival was the hardest for me. Watching the performances of both Romanians and fellow volunteers stirred something in me. While I was touched by the celebration of heritage, I couldn’t ignore the deep scar left by my own country. In that moment, I longed to call it home again, but I couldn’t.

Visiting the forest was pure magic. Walking among the tall trees, with the foliage crunching underfoot and the different mushrooms and tree branches scattered around like nature’s own artwork, was an experience I didn’t want to end. The cool breeze that swept through the air brought a sense of calm that I didn’t realize I needed until I felt it. I wish I could’ve stayed there longer, in the peace of that moment. I cannot wait to return. The nature here is truly one of the most mesmerizing things I’ve encountered, and I feel so lucky to be surrounded by it. 

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By the end of October, we’ll be hosting the JEMOM exhibition, and I truly hope it turns out to be a nice experience. I’m also looking ahead to our next residency, for the Folklore Museum I believe, and thanks to Folcloristica, ideas are finally starting to come together. I was initially worried about not having a clear direction, but now I feel like a path is starting to reveal itself. 

The first month has been an emotional rollercoaster. It had lows, tensions, anxiety, sadness and old wounds, but it was also filled with love, music, hugs, laughter, balcony sessions and connection.

I feel deeply fortunate to be a part of this project, surrounded by incredible people who are not just fellow volunteers, but housemates, family. 

This period has been full of learning and inspiration, and I’m looking forward to what the next steps bring. I’ve absorbed so much already, and I hope I managed to give as much as, if not more, than I’ve taken. I cannot wait to continue this journey. 

One month down. Six more to go.

Report written by Salma ElGendy, she's from Egypt and she's one of the 14 volunteers participating in Arts Lab 6.0, a project co-funded by the European Union through the European Solidarity Corps program.