You hear it everywhere... Reduce, reuse, recycle. Today, we'll be focusing on the most fun and exciting R (in our opinion) - REUSE!

Far apart from traditional recycling, in which materials like plastic and paper are gradually degraded and reused a limited number of times, upcycling turns waste into products of greater purpose. There is a sort of art or beauty in taking something unwanted and giving it another life. The process of upcycling gives new meaning and an aesthetic value to the new product that has been created.

In this edition of He Home, we had a very interesting chat with Ibrahim Salah, one of Egypt’s promising young sculptors whose art has heavily relied on the process of upcycling.

The 28-year-old Minyan artist, Ibrahim, creates gigantic statues from scrap! He works with a passion for sculpture, turning it from a hobby to a profession. His first statue from scrap was the Pharaonic Cat (Bastet), then Horus, then Cleopatra, all of which were huge.

When did you start the art of sculpting?

It's a talent that I have had since I was a little kid. It’s both a hobby and a talent that I have developed professionally as I grew older. I started working for interior design houses at the beginning of my career using materials such as cement and cast molds. I worked with those two materials to create wall sculpture installations. Later, I wanted to develop my skills further so I began using those materials to create statues.

How long have you been working in the field of sculpting? 

I have been working for approximately 7 years now using cement and cast. During this time, I worked with different materials used in sculpting. But one material I wasn’t familiar with yet;  metal. However, after extensive research, I realized that metal is one of the most famous upcycling materials used abroad in sculpting, so I began using it and have been doing that for 3 years now.

What was one of your first major sculpting works or installations? 

My first piece of work was a huge monumental sculpture of a Coptic Egyptian, which gained immense fame and positive feedback across all social media platforms. Following this enormous success, I began sculpting a statue of Horus which was 6 meters long, using half a ton of scrap. The size and length of those sculptures are considered a phenomenon in Egypt because no one has ever upcycled materials to create statues that are that big.

When did you open your own workshop or design house?

After the enormous success that I received after installing my first two sculptures, I opened my own workshop and began working on my own designs using metal in particular. I have been running my own workshop for almost 3 years now, and with time, I became specialized in using metal in my sculptures.

What are your designs inspired from?

My designs are all inspired by the Egyptian Cultural Heritage. I wanted to be the first person in Egypt who specialized in making designs using recycled materials to create sculptures of ancient Egyptians.

How long does it take you to finish a single piece?

Usually, sculptures that are that big in size, like the ones I create, take from 3 to 4 months to be fully finished. However, I finish my sculptures in a shorter period of time; for example, I finished the Horus statue in 40 days without any help or assistance.

Do you only use metal in your sculptures?

No, in fact, I discovered a unique material that most sculptors in Egypt don’t use and which is missing in the industry; it’s car tires. Traditional sculptures use metal and cement in their designs; however, I began using old car tires in my designs to stand out. I designed a 7-meter-long sculpture out of old car tires in Dahab, which was considered one of the biggest sculptures in Egypt and the Middle East designed using this material. This installation in particular received positive feedback across all social media platforms.

How do you showcase your work?

I mainly promote my work on social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. I used those to increase interactivity and reach with my followers and get their feedback on my work.

Do you wish to use different materials in your designs other than the ones you previously used?

No, I just want to develop my skills further in using and incorporating old car tires in my sculptures. This is because using old car tires is unique to sculpting and encompasses more than one benefit, one of which is the art of upcycling material.

In your opinion, what will be a turning point in your career?

I’m planning to open an art gallery where I’ll be able to showcase my work. This will be a turning point in my career because people will be able to see my art live; not just through pictures on Facebook and Instagram.

Did you receive any awards or recognition for your work?

I received an award during “Maker Faire” which is a venue for engineers, artists, and crafters to showcase their inventions and creativity.