Meet This January’s Emerging Artist!

By Johara Almogbel

Name: Turki Al Andas
Age: 21
Occupation: Student at Prince Sultan University, Finance
Medium: Graffitii
Instagram: turki_alandas

What got you started?

One day I was reading a book, and the writer (Brazilian), was talking about his hometown, Sao Paulo. He was saying it’s sweet and modern, yet walking through some alleys make him feel sadness and darkness in that part of the city, but then it’s balanced by the funny and beautiful street art on its walls, making it creative and joyful.

The moment I read that, I applied that image on Riyadh and I found out how similar it is in comparison to Sao Paulo not only in terms of modernity, but with the negative side to it. With that in mind I used my basic tools and knowledge and started testing them, creating the first ever painting.

Why do you art?

I simply love my city the more I live in it. It’s her walls that frame my paintings and her people are my fans. All my street art is dedicated to my lovely city and considered as a gift from my heart, not out of love only but because it deserves it and more.

Is your work the result of sudden inspiration, or long term planning?

It’s actually a mix of both. The idea itself in term of design, colors, size and harmony is sudden. But the work of drawing, placement and quality management is estimated by days.

How do you think up your concepts?

Nothing I do or think about comes from nowhere. It must have been seen, written or talked about somewhere in the past, making the work some sort of reference to that moment.

What is, in your opinion, the best thing you’ve ever created and why?

It’s hard to decide. It’s like picking the best finger amongst the other ones on your hand! But it is the passion and dedication poured into the work itself and the growth of quality increasing from one to another is the best thing about what I do.

What does being creative mean to you?

It means express yourself with respect to others, draw your own lines without crossing any lines. It means be random in thinking and organized in working. Fix what’s wrong so you can make it better, because creativity is more like responsibility; you have to take care of it all the time.