Something about maps always intrigued me. Whether I drew imaginary cities or cityscapes, the idea od planning a city always appealed to my wanna-be architect side.
So one day, a friend asked me to draw a map from my house to hers. This could have ended that night with a simple line drawing showing which road to take across Cairo for her to get home. But instead, I took it on as a challenge.
I decided to draw a map of epic proportions from Heliopolis to Zamalek and everything in between. Using Google maps and my memory, I spent a year sketching and planning out Cairo, creating what would ultimately be my longest project to date.
Just to be clear, this is my Cairo, with more greenery and open road than reality permits. But then again, that's where imagination kicks in and is free to do what it wants.
Somewhere in an apartment in Zamalek, the original map is hung on a wall at my friends house, helping her always know how to find her way home, while I keep the copy, reminding me of home.
The work in progress.
Size: A3
If you like to see Cairo in a greener (and smaller) perspective, you can pick this one up here.