Collaborators and Participants Needed for Project "Visage" and Project "Numb-ess"
If you are interested in being part of the project, please reach out to me on instagram at momo.d.art, or directly email me at mostafaxteef@yahoo.com. to link you the instruction.
Read below, after the project description for quick instructions.
Dear Reader;
I am grateful to the Minnesota State Arts Board for awarding me the Minnesota State Art Grant for Individuals. This grant will support me for a year as I undertake these projects, which will serve as a pivotal step in my career, strengthen my artistic portfolio, and assist in my future applications to graduate school.
I invite anyone interested in contributing to this project to join as a collaborator or participant. My work explores pressing issues that affect us all, particularly in the midst of the challenges we face today. Your collaboration will strengthen my work, as the core purpose of this project is to give voice to the struggles within our society.
I will serve as a voice for those often silenced—whether due to political, societal, gender-related, or other forms of oppression that hinder individuals from fully being themselves.
In an increasingly individualistic world, I ask you to stand with me in fostering a more communal and engaged society—one that brings overlooked issues and misconceptions to light for all to see.
I sincerely thank you and hope you will reach out to be part of this project.
Sincerely,
Mo.
Numb-Ness
Numb-Ness
Project Numb-Ness
Pacifying words. Harsh words. We often soften our truth just so it can be tolerated, so it can be heard.
Because sometimes, even truth, when spoken too plainly or too sharply, can be dismissed, ignored, or rejected.
Sometimes, words are hard to speak because we’ve grown quiet within ourselves, less confident, more guarded.
Sometimes, they are hard to speak, because we fear the consequences of honesty.
Sometimes, because of ignorance… or the weight of misunderstanding.
Sometimes, because we are conditioned to follow the masses and speaking against that can leave us feeling exiled.
Sometimes, because we need to assimilate, before the masses points the finger and shun us.
Sometimes, silence is enforced by punishment.
Sometimes, silence is simply more comfortable.
And sometimes… there are too many reasons not to speak.
This project is meant to hold space for those unsaid words.
Your message, whatever it may be, will remain anonymous and will be translated into music. As I did in a previous project, I will use Braille as the structural guide, transforming your words into a musical composition.
This is your podium. A space to express whatever you are carrying:
What is oppressing you.
What is silencing you.
What is weighing on you.
What is yours to say, but has yet to be spoken.
How to be a participant of this project?
If you are based in the U.S., especially in Minnesota, Philadelphia, or anywhere in between (as I am currently traveling), and that you would like to participate/ contribute to the project, then please consider reaching out to me so we can schedule a time to meet in person. The entire process usually takes no more than 15 minutes, though it can be shorter or longer depending on how much you would like to talk. I will meet you wherever is most convenient for you, or wherever we agree upon.
During our time together, we will sit down over coffee or tea, and I will listen to anything you feel like sharing, your story, your thoughts, your message. I will take whatever you choose to express and transform it into a musical composition, shaped by your voice and experience.
Whether it is frustration with society, something personal, or simply a casual conversation to connect, what you share is entirely up to you. But I encourage you: do not stay silent. Your voice matters.
P.S: If you are unable to meet in person, I am also offering a remote option. Just reach out, and I will send you detailed instructions on how to contribute, from how to take the photos, to uploading them, along with the message you would like to share. We can also meet virtually?
Thank you, sincerely.
Why I am doing this project?
I believe we each evolve over time, as we grow older and deepen our understanding of ourselves, our surroundings, and the society we are part of. As an artist, This growth informs everything; our mindset, our physical presence, and especially the way we approach our creative journeys. For me, it has profoundly shifted how I think about art and my creative practice as a whole.
As I reflect on this journey, I cannot ignore the growing sense of distance and dissonance between people. More and more, I see a focus on values that erode our shared sense of morality, ethics, and community. In several of the communities I have been part of or encountered, I have noticed how they are slowly breaking down, giving way to a further rising culture of individualism.
I understand why life has become increasingly difficult, and many are simply trying to survive.
Yet now, more than ever, I believe in the need for community and sense of belonging and understanding. We need love. We need respect. And we need the willingness to truly listen to one another. We must create spaces where people can speak openly about their struggles, and to be heard, especially in a way that isn't capitalistic or media driven involved.
These two projects are a reflection of that belief. They are rooted in my own experiences as an immigrant and shaped by the many moments of hardship I have faced along the way. I know I am not alone. So many of us are carrying more than we are able to say out loud, and lately, that weight feels even heavier.
To me, art, in its most honest form, is an intellectual podium. It can be quiet or forceful, emotional or restrained. It takes on many shapes. But above all, it offers a space to speak, and more importantly, a space to be heard. That is the heart of this work: to create a space where people feel safe, seen, and heard, even if only by me, or by a smaller group of people.