Video: See Omani graffiti artist Abdulmalik Al Maskri in action

T-Mag Wednesday 04/July/2018 17:19 PM
By: Times News Service

The art form that has been popularised by the likes of Banksy, an anonymous England-based graffiti artist, is now making a buzz in Oman, thanks to Abdulmalik Al Maskri, one of the few artists who has dived into the world of graffiti. While in Oman this art is prohibited in public places, artists have found a way to pursue their art and they spray on interior walls and canvases.
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Graffiti is the most recognised form of contemporary street art and has a unique appeal, said Abdulmalik while sharing his passion for this street art. While writings or drawings scribbled, scratched, or sprayed artistically on a wall or other surfaces in a public place has been very common worldwide, it isn’t allowed in the Sultanate. But that hasn’t stopped artists from chasing their dreams. As the saying goes, true dreamers always find a way to practice their passions, and while graffiti as an art form has yet to grow in Oman, a number of hardcore fans have found a way around the prohibition by spending their time spraying on canvases and walls at home.

“Having artwork on a wall is a great reminder of how good of an artist you are, as the art will remain forever on that wall,” said the artist who has managed to find alternative ways to practice this art form without vandalising properties or ruining the walls in Muscat.

The Journey
Abdulmalik, who hails from Ibra in Al Sharqiyah and is now a resident of Muscat, pursued his higher studies in IT and architecture, although street art was always his first love. His passion for art began at a very young age, when he would spend hours drawing beautiful objects using his favourite, well-sharpened pencil. He has loved fine arts for as long as he can remember, and used his skills to transform his imagination into actual art on paper.

Popular in school as a creative kid, Abdulmalik participated in several drawing competitions from elementary to high school and had won many awards, which helped convince him that he was destined to become an artist. However, at that point in his life, he had no idea which field he wanted to specialise in, so he attempted to master pencil art and learn about watercolours and oil paintings. Little did he know, however, that his true passion lay in a completely different field — one that required the use of spray cans and gas masks.

So how did his journey as a graffiti artist begin?

In 2009, when he was still in high school, Abdulmalik was asked to come up with a project that showcased his true potential. He was already known as a great painter, but he wanted to try some more adventurous forms of fine art. After researching, he fell in love with the idea of drawing on walls. It was, at the time, a new and unfamiliar territory that needed to be explored, so he immediately dived into it.

He was then asked to provide photos of this so-called graffiti art, but he couldn’t find a wall in town that had beautiful creations or poetic stories, and the walls that had art on them were not artistic enough to make Abdulmalik fall in love with them. That made him turn to plan B, which was to find a clean wall in a secluded area where he could work his magic.

He bought a couple of cans of spray paint and went to a secluded location to craft out inspiring artwork. Once he was finished, he grabbed his camera and took a photo for his high school project. It was then that graffiti as an art form sparked a fire in his heart. That day marked the beginning of his mission to become a great graffiti artist.
“I admire the effect that comes out of graffiti,” Abdulmalik said. “It gives me a final result full of beautiful details. You can even express your feelings and share them on a wall forever,” he adds.

One day, a store owner approached him and suggested that they collaborate on a project. At that time, he had just acquired the best spray paints from Germany, so he realised that this could be a golden opportunity. He packed his cans of spray paint and headed over to the store.

He drew more than three huge drawings on the walls of the store: A ghost-inspired artwork, a Ferrari, and one of our absolute favourite fictional characters from DC Comic’s Batman, the Joker.

“The attention to detail was impeccable on these artworks,” he said about the intricate details on the graffiti in the store, such as the curves on the car and the veins on the Joker’s body. “I made sure that I brought out the tiniest of details and features of these items using spray paint, caps, and sets of brushes.”

On another wall, a painting of a flashy yellow Lamborghini took three days to finish “because I wanted to ensure that every detail was perfectly painted,” Abdulmalik said. He also painted the Incredible Hulk from Marvel Comics alongside a bunch of street fighters at one of the local gyms.

These artworks have made him become a favourite and a household name for those who admire the art form in Oman and want it to grace their homes and storefronts.
“I try to inject my love into every piece, and put my touch and identity on it,” he explained.

The Inspiration
Abdulmalik enjoys painting subjects close to his heart, but his works can also appear almost realistic. He draws inspiration mostly from pop culture figures and his surroundings. In his private collections, he likes to add hints from his past experiences which carry personal and anecdotal stories. Today, people can easily spot his work and identify it as “Abdulmalik’s wall”, which is a worthy achievement that once seemed far-fetched for the young artist.

Though graffiti lives on city walls and buildings around the world, Abdulmalik explained that it’s a different game here in Oman. Instead of drawing and scribbling at random places, he urges like-minded artists to gather and support one another in establishing a platform that caters to graffiti art.

“Our city is a beautiful city, and a clean capital, I could not allow myself to put drawings on its walls,” he said, adding that he still had to find ways to practice his newfound profession.

Abdulmalik’s dream of becoming the best graffiti artist Oman has ever produced is now becoming a reality, and it’s only the beginning of a fruitful journey. —[email protected]

Follow Abdulmalik Al Maskri on Instagram @4almlk