This is Mohammed Tamam.
A well known Egyptian artist, he's putting his brushes aside and running in parliamentary elections, set to begin Monday.
Tamam has little political experience, but feels he must support what's been a rocky transition to democracy for his country.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATE, MOHAMED TAMAN, SAYING:
"We are all of us a part of the revolution. We will not calm down until we are sure that the country has reached safe waters and become a true democracy which is what we hope for Egypt, God willing."'
The elections are Egypt's first since a democratic uprising earlier this year forced long-time president Hosni Mubarak to resign.
But they come amid a surge of violence and fears the country's interim military rulers will continue to cling to power well into the future.
Andrew Raven, Reuters