In his first participation in the Aswan International Granite Sculpture Symposium, artist Essam Ashmawy engages in a profound dialogue with granite, transforming abstract ideas into tangible forms that inhabit and converse with space. He describes sculpture as a space for reflection, where the material's presence, weight, and texture guide the emergence of form.

The Youth Workshop of the symposium's 30'1' edition providedanimmersive andintensive environment,allowing him to work alongside artists from different cultures and confront the challenges of a resilient material like granite. Ashmawy reflects on the deep connection between Aswan, its granite, and the long histo1y of sculpture in the region, noting that the city and its stone add a unique dimension to the creative experience.

His work, titled "Trace," is inspired by ancient Egyptian civilization, particularly the feather of the god Ma'at, a symbol of balance, justice, and harmony. Through a contemporary sculptural lens, the piece reinterprets these timeless concepts, exploring the relationship between mass andspace, stone and time,and ideaand form, while leaving room for contemplation andinvitingthe viewer to findtheir own meaning within the work.