Monday 19 / January / 2026
Muscat: Under the enchanting lights of Muscat Nights, colours blended to adorn walls with artistic murals brimming with youthful creativity, giving graffiti art a notable presence in the social sphere.
This art form, which began as a means of individual expression, has evolved to carry a contemporary visual language reflecting the views of youth and opening a space for dialogue between the artist and society.
Providing graffiti artists the opportunity to participate in Muscat Nights was one of the main objectives for spreading artistic and cultural awareness, driven by a genuine desire to express identity and belonging, and to build dreams in a creative style that transcends traditional boundaries.
Graffiti art is characterised by its rapid interaction between place and event and its ability to reach the audience directly without barriers.
Therefore, it is considered one of the art forms closest to youth. Its participation in these open national celebrations supports the hosting of contemporary arts, adds artistic beauty to public spaces, and enhances visual taste.
Hood Ismail Al Balushi, a graffiti artist, defined this art, saying: “It is free art that exists outside the formal framework. Through it, you can express yourself without restrictions and assert your identity in society. It is also a plastic art used for self-expression.”
Regarding his participation in Muscat Nights, Al Balushi explains his choice of ideas presented through graffiti art to suit the current context: “Take my participation as a graffiti artist in Muscat Nights as an example. The idea forms around the occasion and what the public event offers, so it becomes expressive of it, or it expresses Omani meanings such as heritage and what we, as Omanis, take pride in.”
He added that a graffiti artist can use this art to express issues clearly and openly, or in the form of hidden artistic messages through which they express their own or their community’s opinion, indicating that he considers graffiti art a voice for the voiceless.
Redefine this art
For his part, Mu’adh Suhail Al Magaizawi, a graffiti artist, said: “My participation in Muscat Nights is a valuable opportunity to redefine this art within Omani society, to shape an expressive image of it in the cultural and artistic sphere, and to actively affirm the ability and creativity of Omani youth.”
He added that this experience differs in terms of the number of participating artists, the organisation of the space, the size of the murals, and the significant interaction from visitors and the audience, although it sometimes causes a break in the flow of one’s ideas while painting, especially due to children.
“However, every experience is beautiful in itself and contributes to generating new creative ideas due to the diversity and difference in spaces,” he said.
Yousef Hilal Al Ghamlasi, a graffiti artist, affirmed that Muscat Nights contributed to highlighting existing and investable Omani talents and gave them a space to appear before the public, helping to transform these artistic energies into a clear creative value within the event.
He said that integrating graffiti art with cultural activities in Muscat Nights helped introduce the local audience and visitors from various countries to the existence of Omani artists with strong talent and showcased Omani identity in a contemporary style, making visual art a tourist attraction across broader spaces than traditional paintings.
He added that collective work contributed to completing the artistic concept, elevating the aesthetic strength of the works, and enhancing the spirit of cooperation among artists, making the experience more cohesive and visually rich. -ONA
