Egyptians use artist’s work to decry plunging pound

Egyptian artists have found new uses for their currency as its value continues to fall.

A photo series by Egyptian photographer Mohamed el-Dib from earlier this year has resurfaced as Egyptians express anger over the country's dire economic straits.

Black market traders have been buying dollars for 17.5-17.85 Egyptian pounds each on Monday and selling them to importers at 18-18.20, recent reports suggest, representing a two-pound slide in a single week, and a five-pound slide this month.

El-Dib's project first came about earlier this year after the Egyptian pound plummeted in value.

The photo series is titled #EjibshanBound, mimicking the Egyptian pronunciation of the phrase "Egyptian pound," and offers creative new uses for the Egyptian pound.

Describing the purpose of the series, el-Dib wrote: "some of these posts may be funny, some of them may be sad, some bittersweet. Others will make you happy, others melancholic, and some may even offend you."

Speaking in an interview about the series, el-Diab continued: “I believe that the only way to change the world is by changing our perspective. And when you come to think of it, you’ll realise that nothing is really what it seems, but rather how you choose to perceive it.”

The renewed popularity of the series comes as Egyptians on social media, both within Egypt and abroad, complain after struggling to find money exchange offices that will accept their currency.