#29. Mohammed Ali: Making A Change Through Graffiti Art

Mohammed Ali is an award winning artist, curator and creative producer. He is regarded as a pioneer in the Islamic street-art movement, fusing street art with Islamic script and patterns. He has been awarded an MBE for services to Art. Mohammed began as a graffiti artist, painting Islamic inspired street art. He has since evolved his work towards combining street art with live performances, installations, digital projections and moving soundscapes. He has created truly immersive experiences for audiences throughout the world, from street canvases in New York,  Amsterdam, London and Melbourne, to intimate performances in the Vatican. His work serves as a bridge, bringing together communities divided by culture, faith and ethnicity. In 2008, Mohammed founded ‘Soul City Arts’, a global arts movement bringing together artists, activists and communities with the goal of transforming society. In 2013, Mohammed was invited to the Vatican to present at a TedX entitled “Religious Freedom Today” where he painted a street art mural live on stage. On the show today, we discuss his journey as a graffiti artist and becoming a role model to future Islam-inspired artists, the state of the Islamic arts scene today and learning from past experiences, the future of the Islamic Arts and the inspiration behind his Vatican performance. We had an insightful conversation with the pioneer, exploring an area which does not get much media coverage and learning more about the Islamic Arts space. If you liked this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcast. Subscribe to the podcast via Apple Podcast, Android or Spotify. Follow us on Instagram or Facebook. For feedback, banter or any business enquiries, e-mail us at [email protected].