Selmani’s work Eye to Eye represents a giant eye-shaped amulet, a nazar, that protects people, animals, and objects from the evil eye. The nazar amulet is a popular symbol in the Middle East.
Selmani magnified this familiar ‘pop icon’ to become an instrument that protects the city. At the same time, Eye to Eye is a landmark watching over us that speaks to our deepest selves.
Selmani’s all-seeing eye always watches us, but not as a threatening Big Brother who wants to retain full control, or as a surveillance camera that invades our privacy. Eye to Eye is a landmark watching over us and creating a safe and peaceful zone. That feeling of safety is what Selmani wants his visitors to experience also on a personal level: his talisman speaks with calming blue light and a glowing aura directly (‘eye to eye’) to our deepest individual being, brings peace and encourages us.