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For the love of HM the Sultan and the sultanate

28 Jul 2020 By MOHAMMED TAHA

Visitors to the popular tourist spot of Wadi Hoqain in the Wilayat of Rustaq will be pleasantly surprised with a huge portrait of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and the Late His Majesty Sultan Qaboos adorning the entrance of Al Hoqain Village. 

Expressing his love for Oman and paying rich tributes to His Majesty Sultan Haitham and to the Late Sultan Qaboos, a young Omani fine arts student and graffiti artist took great pains to make a portrait in the gruelling summer heat over eight days. 

Khalil Mohammed al Salmi, 20, hailing from Wilayat of Rustaq and a student of Fine Arts College in Sultan Qaboos University, over the past five years has found himself atop hills or standing in front large canvases, such as walls, making eye-catching paintings and portraits, thereby adding to the beauty of the sultanate. 

Speaking to Muscat Daily, Salmi said, “I have been making graffiti since my childhood. I started work on the portraits of His Majesty Sultan Haitham and the Late Sultan Qaboos at the end of Ramadan this year and it took me eight days to complete it.”

Salmi, through his outdoor graffiti, which he has painted across Wilayat of Rustaq, feels that his art adds value to a site, helping promote tourism and attract tourists, and encouraging people to conserve the environment.

“I wanted to express my love for His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, and pay rich tributes to the Late His Majesty Sultan Qaboos. This portrait of two Sultans is 2.5m high and 8m wide,” he said, adding, “It was not an easy task as I started in the month of Ramadan and worked for several hours a day during intense heat. Also, some people were skeptical of my abilities. But with determination and patience, I showed my potential. I will continue to promote my country in all its glory,” he said.

Salmi has painted a lot of landscapes for commercial establishments, schools, homes and restaurants, and loves to draw Arabic calligraphy. 

“I will continue to make paintings in the valleys, mountains and various regions of Oman to promote tourism in the sultanate. I hope that my art reaches a wider audience and help promote my country.”

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