This work is an imprint of a wall on a road called Rue El Azafine (which means street of music’) in the old city of Tunis. There is a taboo word (‘asba’) deeply etched on the wall which is the synonym for penis – it is considered the most vulgar expletive that is specific to Tunisia. Whilst taking the rubbing from the wall she overheard a conversation about her from two passers by and included the dialogue in the piece. She comments that in Tunis walls are the world of men and graffiti often has negative connotations. The fact that a woman was rubbing over a swear word would be considered quite scandalous. The following is the dialogue between the passers by:
‘What is she doing?
Is she cleaning the wall?
She seems like a tourist.
No, she is an architecture student.
Go, go talk to her.
My sister, what are you drawing?
I want to reveal on paper what is scratched on the wall.
Did you see what she is doing? There is a swearword on the wall and she is making a copy of it.
You see, nowadays, the sluts have become artists.’
– Tetx from Lawrie Shabibi
