Arts Lab 7.0: Loay ElMofty | Month IV

December was a relatively quiet month in terms of project activity, mainly because of the holidays. I travelled back to Egypt for four days to spend some time with my family, then returned to Romania briefly before continuing on to Amsterdam, Berlin, and Oslo. The whole trip unfolded over the course of two weeks and turned into a very adventurous experience. I met a lot of people, had unexpected conversations, and was constantly moving between places, languages, and atmospheres.

Travelling through so many countries in such a short time was exciting but also very hectic. At moments, it didn’t feel like I was travelling as much as it felt like I was floating never fully landing, always in transit. It was fun and energizing in its own way, but coming back to Romania felt grounding. There was something reassuring about returning to a place that now feels familiar and stable again.

Being away from the project for a while gave me the distance I needed to reflect on my first three months in Arts Lab 7.0. This period has been intense and layered, full of both joyful and difficult moments. There were moments of excitement, discovery, and connection, but also moments of frustration, tiredness. Realizing that I am already halfway through the program made me more aware of how quickly time is moving. It also made me realize that I sometimes allow the harder moments to take up more space than they deserve. This reflection reminded me of the importance of staying present, enjoying the lighter moments as they happen, and not letting challenges overshadow how meaningful and genuinely fun this experience has been so far.

I returned to Romania on the 6th of January, and we immediately began preparing for our upcoming Rroma residency. Together with my friend Annes, we initially planned to work with the youth on crafts and then gradually integrate the objects they created into a small theatrical piece. However, the youth’s attendance was not consistent, which made developing a structured performance difficult. Rather than forcing the process, we decided to adapt our approach and focus entirely on the craft workshops. This allowed the sessions to remain flexible, open, and responsive to the young people who were present, without the pressure of building towards a final play.

In parallel, we are also preparing to replay our show at the House of Culture Theatre next Saturday. I am very excited about this. Returning to the performance after some time and distance feels meaningful, and I’m curious to see how the work resonates now, both for the audience and for us as performers.

Overall, December may have been quieter in terms of production, but it was an important month for movement, reflection, and recalibration, which I feel will strongly inform how I continue with the project moving forward.

This monthly report was written by Loay ElMofty, our Egyptian volunteer taking part in a seven-month Arts Lab 7.0 mobility, co-funded by the European Union under the European Solidarity Corps.