history of the dj

'history of the dj' illustration . 2021

'history of the dj' timeline (gif) . 2021

'history of the dj' final mural . 2021

'history of the dj' final mural . 2021

'history of the dj' final mural (detail) . 2021

'history of the dj' final mural (detail) . 2021

'history of the dj' final mural . 2021

this is by far my favourite project i worked on this year, and probably one that i'm most proud of! i was invited by selecta – a dj + nightclub systems retail store, to work on a mural for their recently opened space. they wanted a visual timeline of the history of dj-ing, from how it all started to where we are today.

if you're a follower of my work, you'd probably know by now how much music means to me. i think the lack of not being able to go out to clubs and dance last year manifested a few projects about music this year, and this one is my most valued of the bunch! working on a mural about dance music, dj-ing and club culture was a dream come true. i learnt so much in the process through the research phase of this project about key figures and djs that left their legacy in the industry, and understanding the equipment and advancement in their technologies through the decades. i was so excited about illustrating things that i love about the history of music and club culture – the emergence of disco and chicago house music in the 70s & 80s, raves in the 90s... i also added a few easter eggs along the way – can you spot donna summer and keith haring?!

i was so happy with the final illustration, and felt a sense of pride when i walked into selecta to see the mural in person. this was truly made from the heart, and i hope whoever comes across this mural sees that. thank you wid + hassan for reaching out and having me on board for this. hope it wasn't too much of a bumpy ride getting this done! but i think we have something beautiful installed in the space. 

if anyone's in town, and wants to support this local grown store or check out the mural, please go and see it all in person. congratulations to the selecta team on the opening of the store. blessings and good vibes always...

everlasting disco

dancing masks (everlasting disco) photo series . 2021

welcome to the everlasting disco! i'm so happy to be sharing this photo series i worked on with my dearest friend and talented photographer saeed khalifa.

i've been meaning to document the 'dancing masks' i worked on during my art residency at the cultural foundation in abu dhabi between october to december of last year (see blog post on that here). i wanted to bring them to life in some way, and reflect the themes i was thinking of when working on them. saeed came in and was given free reign to direct the photoshoot, and visually captured exactly what i had in mind – commemorating dancing during a time i was unable to, the feeling of transcendence with dance that's beyond the human experience, what's concealed or revealed in a space like a night club/disco, adornment and the rituals that come with a night out dancing. i'm so so happy with how these images turned out. the photos really encapsulate my experiences on the dance floor, completely void of my identity, presenting this other being that appears when dancing in dark, club spaces.

i've always wanted to collaborate with saeed on a project, and this felt like the perfect opportunity. just a little credit break down – masks designed and modelled by me. and the creative direction and photography are by saeed. thank you saeed for these. we did a pretty good job! also, for anyone in need of a professional photographer, please get in touch with saeed – he is proper talent!

tub time

tub time . 2021

here's an illustration of my bathtub after almost two months of no blog posts! the silence has mainly been because of being occupied with a lot of work and no time for anything else. i've also been occupied with some house maintenance work, heavy decluttering, and an unfortunate infestation of termites! in addition to this year's unbearable heat, this has been quite the cruel summer.

with that being said, it's during these stressful times that i find myself finding solace in my bathtub! a domestic space used for moments of disconnect – it's where i go to escape from everything and everyone. it's where i get a lot of reading, thinking and sleeping done. it's me time; for reflecting over all that happened in a long day, or managing feels and moments of existentialism in silence. sometimes, the best ideas for projects come in these quiet moments in my tub! it really is a space where i let my mind wander, and allow for a little zen into my life...

i have been slightly overwhelmed with work, and i think i just needed a mental break to illustrate something that had nothing to do with client projects. i really like how the final illustration turned out in the end.

stay tuned for posts very soon, on projects that i've been working on and have been unable to announce or share. i hope they're worth the wait. until then, signing off and heading to my tub to call it a day...