Tag Archives: graffiti
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I love graffiti, I love how bold and subtle it can be at the same time. You can walk by it and never realize it's even there or it will hit you as soon as you see it. It's the kind of the art you actually appreciate but are too afraid to admit it because it can be seen as "untraditional" or merely as "street art". The fundamentals of graffiti are words/tagging - calligraphy. Calligraphy has always been at the heart of of Islamic art.
eL Seed is a graffiti artist who bringing back Arabic calligraphy in a modern form. eL Seed's art has been featured at the Islamic Arts Festival in Sharjah and at Calligraffiti event at the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha. His work captures the bold and subtle qualities that I love about graffiti and pushes the boundaries with his dynamic short films.
Head to his Facebook for more pictures.
Images: el Seed
A few months ago, Bloomingdales Dubai had a really cool event promoting their beauty department called, "Let's Face It" (click here to read the post). We're huge Bloomies fans but what we really loved about the event was their live art, created by graffiti artist Lee Wicks.
We love Lee's effortless and cool style, so we had to catch up with the artist that's leading the UAE's graffiti scene.
AnnaMiriam.com: How did you get into graffiti?
Lee Wicks: I got into Graffiti at high school after seeing a guy copying pieces from a book called spray can art ( check it out it's a history of graff from around the world ). I wasn't keen on doing what he was doing, copying, so I started doing my own then I met up with another guy who also painted so it basically went from there. Never copy other people's work it's a big no no. Also I lived on the outskirts of London (UK) so me and my friend would travel into town to see what new pieces were around and running on the trains.
AnnaMiriam.com: How would you describe your style? What inspires you?
Lee Wicks: My style I would say is bright and rounded, nothing to complex, but still with a certain amount of flair and with the colours in paint you can now get the colour combinations are endless which I love. As for inspiration anything really inspires, a good day, a good feeling and i'm set. I try not to take it to seriously now as i have been through the whole trying to better than the next man thing. I do it because I love it and the sense of achievement you get from spending 1 hr or 6 hrs on a piece is unbeatable. More so here in Dubai as people still dont really understand it so when people say " that's amazing " I'm happy. I love that people here are totally into graffiti.
AnnaMiriam.com: What type of work do you do in Dubai?
Lee Wicks: I worked for an Exhibition & Events set up company which I have done for 15yrs, 4 yrs spent in Dubai.
AnnaMiriam.com:What is the graffiti/street/art scene like here? Are there cool places graffiti/art places in the UAE or Middle East that you recommend?
Lee Wicks: The scene in Dubai is, well, a little slow but that's only down the fact that its not really been exposed that much. There have been some amazing Graffiti artist in town like, Futura, Stash, Dreph, The Montana writers team, Mohammed Ali, Rate but I felt that they didn't get that much coverage whilst they where in town but some of the work is still around mainly at Festival City.
As for places to paint I have only done purely legal work whilst I have been there and painted again at Festival City and a couple of other little secret spots around town. Festival city is the best place to paint in Dubai right next to the skatepark and everyone is cool with it, even the police. I do also hear that Saudi has a Hall of Fame for Graffiti/Street art I think in Jeddah and iIalso think it's ok to paint at the skate park in Abu Dhabi but don't hold me to that LOL
AnnaMiriam.com: What is the best way for people to get in touch with you?
Lee Wicks:
ljwicks@hotmail.com
www.myspace.com/sya0ne
www.dubai-graffiti.blogspot.com
Bloomingdales Dubai (Dubai Mall) had a little party to celebrate "Let's Face It" - what I believe is a cosmetics line. Whatever it is, they got a DJ and a very talented graffiti artist, Lee Wicks, to do some live art.
I think the graffiti is beautiful and the vibrant colors of the illustration really make me want to try on some make up.
