1.jpeg)
I Saved My Belly Dancer #XII, 2015 Photography: Youssef Nabil
His films and photographs frequently inhabit liminal spaces – characters suspended between life and death, memory and afterlife. This sensibility continues in his latest video work, The Room, featuring the “grandmother of performance art” Marina Abramović. “I see life as a dream, and Marina says, ‘Wake up, Youssef. It is time to die,’” he explains. This line encapsulates a central paradox in Nabil’s philosophy – existence itself may be the dream, fleeting and intangible. “For me, we are not just bodies; we are also souls. I choose to believe that.” This belief infuses his work with spirituality – one that transcends geography, religion and time.
Among the constants in Nabil’s life is his enduring friendship with Abramović – a relationship that began by chance in Cairo and evolved into a profound artistic and personal bond. “We became friends immediately,” he remembers how they met at a cafe 26 years ago. Reflecting on their artistic collaboration, he explains, “Marina always saw the autobiographical side of my work. She emailed me after watching my video, The Beautiful Voyage, with Charlotte Rampling. It was very moving for me to read her opinion about it and how much the project touched her heart. So I said, ‘Maybe we should do the next video together!’ and she replied, ‘I’ll do anything with you. Let’s just do it.’ She’s really my sister, and from day one, she has been supporting my work.” He continues, “You very rarely meet people like that – artists who actually go out of their way to support other artists and be part of their story.” Their shared work invites viewers to feel, however briefly, the intimacy of their connection.