Laura Bashraheel Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — Art has always been a way to express different social, individual and political attitudes. Graphic design conveys the social and cultural beliefs of political and social issues. Recently, Mohammad Sharaf, a graphic designer from Kuwait, designed an image of a veiled woman on a bicycle with a man riding in the back. The design was a clear reference to a recent decision by the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in which women were given permission to drive motorcycles as long as they were accompanied by a male guardian. Titled “Allowed,” the artwork created a splash on social media sites and even in the international press. As a graphic designer, Sharaf, 31, said he has two main objectives – give a direct message and an indirect one. For “Allowed,” the direct message is one that is critical of the commission's decision. Understanding the indirect one, according to Sharaf, will depend on every individual's perspective and understanding. “I read about the announcement in a newspaper and couldn't believe it because I thought it was really funny and far-fetched so I decided to create this artwork. I try my best to illustrate any matter or case by presenting it simply in a funny, yet bold way. “I always make sure that my artwork will touch the very basic audience members, in addition to the sophisticated ones,” he said. Sharaf's political and social artwork relies on plain backgrounds that make use of a limited range of colors. As evident in “Allowed, the most commonly used colors are black, red and white. “I developed my style after I got inspired from different artists and art movements. As for the limited colors and paper, I try to link my artwork to the Russian propaganda and Russian Constructivism art movement. “Their posters were critical of the system and politics in a unique way. They were bold, funny and social. They were direct and indirect. They used very limited number of colors and very cheap materials because of their poor economic status. I mixed all,”said. Sharaf recalled a story of his graphic design teacher, Maryam Hosseinnia, a woman he credits with inspiring him to create political and social artwork two years ago. “She mentioned that an artist/designer should be an active member of society. In one of her classes, we were assigned to a project where we had do a design about our city, the city where we were born and grew up. I decided to do a poster about the thing I really hate in my city. That was the fact that every member of my society talks about everything and anything, disregarding the damage this could make on such a small society. After that project, I started producing posters that highlighted local, regional and international issues,” he explained. Influenced by his father, Sharaf started painting at an early stage using different mediums since he had been exposed to a considerable amount of his father's equipment. However, his father stopped all his activities when Sharaf was seven years old. Banned from showcasing his political paintings at local exhibitions, he decided to stop all activities related to visual art in general, and painting in particular, including teaching his own son what he knew. Sharaf then pursued his passion at school and he would go on to win several school competitions related to art and his passion for Arabic calligraphy continued to grow ever since. “It is still present in my artwork.” His freelancing career took off when he was in university and ever since, though he was doing his first bachelor in marketing, Sharaf has enrolled in a number of photography, graphic design and art classes, all of which he credits with widening his horizons and positively reflecting in his work. “While studying graphic design at the American University of Kuwait (AUK), he established his own home art studio. I work with numerous clients, doing what I love most. My passion for art and my background in marketing have helped me incorporate both elements in my vision of the work I present,” Sharaf said. In 2011, Sharaf graduated from AUK with another degree, BA in graphic design. He also won first place at his university's 6th Annual Art Exhibition. “I was the first place winner in Graphic Responses Competition, and my poster was exhibited in Clara Hatton Gallery in Colorado State University. “I was part of a group exhibition in FA Gallery in Kuwait. Also, Prof. Elisabeth Resnick, chair of graphic design at Massachusetts College of Art and Design, picked a couple of my posters to be part of her coming book and traveling exhibition in 2013,” he said. Over the years, Sharaf has witnessed big developments in the art and design scene in the GCC region. Commenting on the matter, Sharaf said he had noticed that young people are more enthused and interested in art and design and that dozens of institutions and galleries had opened across the region. After “Allowed,” Sharaf was contacted by many organizations to republish his artwork. His work was published in the top German news magazine, Der Spiegel. “I was contacted by a German bicycle museum to have it showcased there and also an NGO from Finland to have the illustration on a book they will be publishing very soon. “For me, I think that the best reward ever is to see my work published and being distributed all over the world,” he said.
