Thursday 09 / January / 2025
The ultra-popular Bernie Sanders meme, which has gained plenty of fame across the internet, now has an Omani version, thanks to a young artist in the country.
A young Omani with a passion for art has created a localised version of the Bernie Sanders meme that’s become extremely popular on the internet.
The original picture of the veteran Vermont senator, who was seated with his arms and legs crossed while wearing a mask to help keep out COVID-19, was first taken during the inaugural speech of US President Joe Biden and VP Kamala Harris earlier this year.
Now, 19-year-old Alazz Khalid Al Balushi has brought this iconic Bernie moment to the very heart of Muscat. In his artwork, the senator is seen hanging out with Omanis near Muttrah Souq, one of the country’s most iconic locations that is home to a number of businesses, some of which are decades old. Alazz chose this location because it is so often frequented by Omanis, expatriates and tourists.
“What sparked my interest in making an Omani version of this meme was the popularity it was getting on the internet,” he admits. “I thought, ‘why not make an Omani version?’ Many people were after all making their own Bernie Sanders memes.”
Now a sophomore at Sultan Qaboos University, where he is a sophomore pursuing a degree in education technology, Alazz studied the basics of drawing and Photoshop while at school. He always had an interest in art, and the skills he learned then have helped him steadily improve his abilities and nurture his passion over the years.
Much like the meme itself, Alazz’s artistic style is inspired by the internet, in particular the artists he follows on social media.
“I began practicing art around the end of 2016, but I became more dedicated towards it around 2019,” he says. “I like creating art in my free time, this is a hobby I love, and I think it’s far easier to draw inspiration for this particular hobby these days, due to the multiplicity of ideas around us. What you see on social media, for example, can inspire you at work.”
Creating the Oman version of the Bernie Sanders meme took him just 15 minutes: “I cut a picture of Sanders from the original image, and pasted this into one of Muttrah Souq,” Alazz recalls. “I then adjusted the lighting and added some effects to the image to make it look more realistic.
Like many of the other Sanders memes that have travelled across the internet, the one featuring him in Muttrah has also gained much appreciation online. “I didn’t expect such a positive reaction from people,” he admits. “For the most part, they have been wonderful.”
Pictures of the one-time presidential campaigner have been inserted into a number of situations, including the iconic bench on which Forrest Gump contemplated life, next to Deadpool on a building ledge, and behind Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as he addresses the nation.
In meme form, Sen. Sanders has also visited a number of fictional locations, including Middle Earth, in a scene alongside Bilbo Baggins and Gandalf in The Hobbit, and Hogwarts, where Professor McGonagall cajoles him into putting on the Sorting Hat.
He’s been featured by a number of brands since then, including a WikiHow article that uses a cartoon version of him to help describe how people can protect themselves from cold in the winter, e-commerce company Shopify, fast food chain KFC, and even the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
Alazz has learned much from creating this and so many other works of art that belie his young years.
“The thing I’ve learned the most is patience…this is important when you work on the things you love,” he explains. “Be prepared as well to accept criticism: not everyone is going to understand your work, and that is the best way to improve.
“If you want to be a good artist, practice,” he adds. “This is true of any passion you have. There is also the constant need to improve yourself and develop your skills if you want to be good at what you do.” – [email protected]
