The practice of sculpture for the artist Mahmoud Kishk is a highlydistinctive experience. Direct interactionwith the material -particularly granite- provides him with pleasure and a space for contemplation, contributing to a deeper understanding of the relationship between form and space, and the development of his artistic vision.

For Mahmoud Kishk, sculpture is a practice that enriches the artist both technically and personally. He emphasizes the importance of his experience at the Aswan International Granite Sculpture Symposium, which he describes as unique, especially as he participates for the second consecutive year. This participation provides him with a reimagined realm for engagement with the material, allowing the cumulative development of expertise in working with granite, all within a spatial and cultural context connected to the oldest sculpture school that originated in Egypt.

Regarding the  work he presents in Aswan this

year, Mahmoud Kishk explains that it continues the philosophy and concept of his previous work in the youth workshop during the 29th edition of the symposium. Through this new piece, he revisits one of the symbols used by ancient Egyptians in necklaces, jewelry, and ornaments, the Golden Fly. He notes that this new sculpture represents a different attempt to capture the spirit of the ancient Egyptian symbol in a contemporary artistic language, using the same 

sculptural unit and shaping it through abstract lines and planes, harmonizing with the nature of the stone.

Thus, he affirms that this year's work constitutes a direct extension of his artistic project, serving as a continuation of his research into the ancient Egyptian concept of this symbol, which expresses victory and dominion, reinterpreted through contemporary sculptural visions that interact with both granite and the site.

Regarding the impact of residing in Aswan on his artistic experience, he remarks thatthe city profoundly influences his work.The visual and cultural character of Aswan fosters a sense ofserenity, focus, and enjoyment

in the creative process, strengthening the connection between the artist, the material, and the place.