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Graffiti artist pays tribute to healthcare workers

26 Jun 2021 By MOHAMMED TAHA

A young Omani graffiti artist is putting the spotlight on the sacrifices the healthcare personnel are making during the COVID-19 pandemic through his elaborate paintings and portraits displayed in the wilayat of Rustaq in South Batinah.

Ahmed Hamid Nasser al Ghafri, a nurse, sheds light on many issues through his graffiti. Over the past four years he has found himself atop hills or standing in front of large canvases and walls making eye-catching paintings and portraits, thereby adding to the beauty of the sultanate. 

To express his love for Oman and pay rich tributes to His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and to the Late Sultan Qaboos, Ghafri took great pains to make their portrait.

Speaking to Muscat Daily, Ghafri said, “I have been doing graffiti since childhood. In 2018, I started work on the portraits on the walls and some old houses in Rustaq. I completed work on the portrait of His Majesty Sultan Haitham and the Late Sultan Qaboos in 2020.”

Ghafri feels that his art adds value to a site, helping promote tourism, and encouraging people to conserve the environment.

“The portrait of His Majesties is 2m high and 4m wide. I painted it on a bridge in Wadi Bani Ghafir in the wilayat of Rustaq,” he said, adding, “It was not an easy task as I worked for several hours a day during intense heat.”

Ghafri has recently painted a portrait of an Omani doctor to highlight the efforts of healthcare personnel in combating coronavirus. “I will continue to make paintings in the valleys, mountains and various regions of Oman to promote tourism. I hope that my art reaches a wider audience and helps promote my country,” Ghafri said.

“I hope to provide special places for graffiti artists to help them show their talent and their humanitarian messages. I also want to host an exhibition.”

 

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