In Yemen, Graffiti Evolves Into High Art
In a country where art galleries are few and far between, artists have transformed walls in public places into canvases. Critics of the form recently defaced graffiti displays across the country, but Yemeni artists are pushing new mural and sculpture projects to advance the idea of public art, writes Nafeesa Syeed.
TAIZ, Yemen — Standing before her impressive depiction of a Yemeni woman shepherd, Maha Al-Shaibani squints her eyes as she giggles nervously under her face-veil.
The shy 24-year-old had only sketched pictures by pencil until trying her hand at painting in a mural wrapping around a noisy intersection in Taiz, a city in southern Yemen. "This is the first time that I used real paints. I started to mix them together," Al-Shaibani said. "Playing with colors shows your personality."
Al-Shaibani along with a group of young artists and art aficionados, who call themselves Colors of Life, reflect the latest development in Yemen's urban arts scene that stemmed from the spontaneous graffiti popularized during this past year's revolution. As in other “Arab Spring” countries, like Egypt, the walls have provided outlets for creativity and elevated street art into an accepted artistic form in places where there are few gallery spaces and schools with arts curricula. In Taiz, they're aiming to advance the concept of public art that's open to all through their new mural and sculpture projects. However, there are obstacles — just last month someone painted over the faces in their first mural, as some believe such depictions to be un-Islamic.
Across Taiz, including in Freedom Square, the ubiquitous Arab Spring slogan, "Irhal" (Leave), is scrawled across walls. Many youth credit this period with unlocking the floodgates of expression, with graffiti first taking off in Sanaa, the capital.
