Special Guest Aritist Announcement: Jalal Luqman!

It gives me great pleasure to announce that Jalal Luqman, a pioneer in the Arab art scene and also the first Emirati digital artist based in Abu Dhabi will be participating as a Special Guest Artist in Project: MEGA 2.0! His style is totally unique, utilizing digital works with hand welded metal sculptures wrapped in a grim fantasy and warped into what can only be described as a dark and sinister altered reality. The mind wonders what the lurks in the depth of Jalal’s mind for his custom creation. Excited yet? We sure as hell are!

Here is some more info about Jalal!

Reputed to be the most provocative Emirati Artists, He has managed to mystify his followers not only by the subject matter he paints, but in the manner in which they are created.

Luqman is the first of his kind to combine between metal and digital art, his limitless approach to producing art is reflected in his limitless style of creating art “If one medium does not deliver the feeling I want in my artwork, I will reach out to another medium that will”. He uses digital paints as a result of more than 7 or 8 different computer programs, before he embeds them in twisted industrial metals, to result in mind jolting images that transcend the boundaries of the frame onto the onlookers psyche. Jalal’s work borders between the modern Digital, to the dark Gothic sculptures resulting in his unique paintings that are confessions of the soul.

Luqman has managed to become a significant name in the Emirati art scene as well as internationally, holding international exhibitions in New York, Kuwait, Tokyo, Egypt, Morocco, the Czech Republic, Washington DC and Beijing.

Jalal Luqman’s unflinching approach has landed him many firsts in his career; First Emirati Digital Artist, First Freelance Graphic Designer, the first contracted Emirati website designer, and most recently co-established the first contemporary art gallery in Abu Dhabi.

Today Jalal Luqman’s contribution to the Emirati art scene has expanded from only producing artworks to being an advocate for the progression of Emirati artists as well as his individual initiatives to promote art in the UAE.

He has conducted many seminars and workshops in schools, colleges and universities nationally and internationally, as well as being a public speaker for the promotion of art in the UAE and a member of UAE delegations to many international art events.

Participant Announcement: Dwynn Ronald Trazo!

Our new addition to the roster brings a lot of technical and graphical skills to the table with multiple awards and a keen interest in designer toys! We are truly curious of what he is going to come up with when he gets the MEGA platform in his possession. Here’s a fun fact! Dwynn’s wife Govinda actually participated last year and created the ‘Ice Cream MEGA’! That baby of theirs is truly going to be one gifted child with such creative parents! And possibly our next recruit! Let’s do this!

Here is some more info on Dwynn!

I work as a Senior Info Graphic Artist/Illustrator at Gulf News.

In 5 years of visual journalism, I’ve been blessed with 24 international awards from Society for News Design (SND), IFRA Asia Media, and Malofiej (info graphic summit). My illustrations have been recognized by the World Press Cartoon for three straight years now (2009, 2010, 2011).

When I’m not designing something I play music. I’ve played bass and drums for my previous bands, now im playing rhythm/lead guitar.

And most importantly, I’m a gym rat!!!!!!

This is where it all starts for me. My head is clear, my body is refreshed, my food digested. Discipline and time management are easier to achieve.

Announcement: Casual MEGA 2.0 Meet and Greet!

So, are you all hyped about seeing the brand spanking new MEGA 2.0?! Well here is your chance to come down, chill, and see the new prototypes in person! Mo Abedin will also be there to answer any questions and also talk about Project: MEGA 2.0.

We like to keep things very casual so it’ll just be a bunch of us chilling and chowing down on some awesome food. Where? Where else! Only the most awesome Arabic fusion food in town! Wild Peeta!

Here is some more information about the meet and greet!

Location
Wild Peeta Open Space | Website www.wildpeeta.com

Directions
World Trade Center Metro Station
Sheikh Saeed Hall
Close to Ibis Hotel

Parking
Available in front of Trade Center Appartments or in the Convention Center Car Park.

Time
Saturday May 21st from 6PM (ish) to 8PM (ish)

So come one, come all, and meet the all new MEGA 2.0 prototypes!

See you all there!

Peace!

Participant Announcement: Sya One!

Another Graff artist heads your way with the latest addition to the growing roster! Please allow us to introduce Sya One! Something also needs to be said about Sya is that he is Bows’ partner in crime and their collaborative pieces are truly awesome. Mixing and matching with vibrant colours, Sya’s all about a bringing in a whole lot of swagger in a can! We’re loving it! Check it!

Here is some more info about Sya One!

I work as a Graphics Projects Manager for an Exhibition company here in Dubai. Graphics being all the Branding on the Exhibition Stands or any Live events we install.

As a trade i am a sign writer, I used to make free hand signs and along with a few other inspirations this is how I end up doing Graffiti. Seeing how letters were built etc. got me hooked and also coming up with colour combinations excited me. I have been working in and around the Exhibition game for over 17yrs.

I have been doing Graffiti on and off for over 15 yrs, took a break for about 6 yrs to concentrate on a career but was still fully into Graffiti even though i wasn’t painting it. I purely do graffiti for enjoyment and not the fame, the illegal side of my painting days are long behind me, to old to be hiding in bushes. Painting alone or with Bow or at live events is now what I like to do, showing the people here that its not all about vandalism but a creative and free following art form with limitless boundaries.
Hoping to do a lot more traveling this year and to leave at least one piece of graffiti in every country I visit and to really start painting a lot more here in Dubai also… when I’m not 8 meters up a ladder installing graphics.

Music is also a big influence in my Graffiti, I need music to paint to, be it nice mellow House or DnB up to crankin’ Dubstep or UK Hip Hip, but some times the sound of the can is music enough. I also have a huge soft spot for Old School Jungle.

INSPIRATIONS
Bow. Makes my mind full of ideas and shes super talented.
Seen. God father of Graffiti
Dondi White . Style master, way ahead of his time . (RIP)
Parents. Goes with out saying
Sunny days and full cans of paint
Good friends
Free, Easy, Happy people that love there life.

Outside of Graffiti I draw, Snowboard, chilling with Bow and coming up with new ideas for painting (this I do most)

Participant Announcement: Yara Hindawi

The Queen of Drum and Bass has been recruited! Yara has a seemingly overwhelming enthusiasm for music especially D’n'B and we came to find out that she also shares a passion for art! Awesome! Her work is quite unlike what we have seen in the past but we have seen her take her ink out on a MEGA before, and yes. She threwdown! So get ready to get filthy while she funks this MEGA up!

Here is a look at some of her work.

Here’s some more info about the dubstepper herself!

I’ve always held pens and pencils too hard – paper is always bound to suffer under my right hand. I think it’s because I lacked the skill to express myself artistically… but the presence is strong enough to force out something through my clumsy fingers.

Torn, dirty paper, ink all over my face and elbows. I just want to draw – what you see here is the outcome.

Participant Announcement: Lina and Akram Al Amoudi!

This is super interesting! We have Lina back from last year who created the all so popular super fine detailed ‘Lil’ Warrior’ that won the ‘Critics Pick’ in most magazines and news features, even all the way from the Philippines! Insane! But with her return she has decided to mix things up and collaborate with her brother Akram who we are also happy to have on board! It seems like creativity and attention to fine details runs through the veins of this family. Just gaze upon Lina’s and Akram’s handiwork respectively. Wow.

Here get to know them better!

Two kids born and raised in Saudi Arabia, both frowned upon for failing to become businessmen like their father and grandfathers,and instead running off to pursue their love of art & design.

Lina & Akram are craftsmen at heart. They are fascinated by beautiful forms and intricately handcrafted art which reflect in most of their pen/ink illustrations, sculptures and photography.

Participant Announcement: Steffi Bow!

Oooh! We got an exciting entry here! We’ve been wondering if we could find a female graff artists in Dubai and luck has it that we have! She’s a busy one and she’s been tagging all over the place! This is one artists you all need to look out for on the streets and, her quirky work with a hint of sarcasm might just might make your day! We can’t wait for Steffi to throw down and also throw dem’ bows! Literally.

Get to know the woman behind the spray can better!

My name is Bow, Steffi Bow.

Behind every artist nick-name there is story. Here is mine.

My maternal Grandma always wore bows, her style was impeccable and she had incredible presence. She came from a small town in the North of Scotland called Brora famous for its malt Whiskey and tweed woollen mill.

I was born in Whitechapel, East London in the sound of Bow Bells, a term referred to people born within a certain area of East London and given the accolade as being a “true cockney” by birth.

I started properly wearing bows when I was about 18 and then took it to another level when my Grandma died. Apart from loving the way a bow beautifies things, I found that once my Grandma had passed away it was a way of me feeling connected to her and that she was still around.

With a genuine love for stencil graffiti art and living in Hackney East London with abundance street painting everywhere, I felt inspired to start installing my own graffiti ‘tag’ – which being a bow, was the perfect symbol to connect my past, present…. and future stencil graffiti obsession.

The bow thus became my tag and I carried on developing the skill of stencilling, cutting and spraying up a variety of different pieces on just about any type of street equipment I could lay my hands on, from rickshaws to road pavements. Many pieces have been done in Dubai, my current hometown.

Back to bows… I never go a day without wearing a bow somewhere. Even when I’m out painting in the streets at the dead of night my “Graff hat” always adorns a bow.

www.steffi-bow.tumblr.com

Participant Announcement: Flordeliza Pesigan

Here we go! One of the artists that we had the pleasure working with last year is back again! Her work is just mouth watering and so soothing to gaze upon. A certain serenity fills us up if we stare for too long… but besides her canvas pieces man can this chick customize toys! Heard of the MEGAtar from last year’s exhibition?! If not just have a look below at some of her work. We have been speechless from then until now. Just pure awesomeness.

Here’s some more on Flor!

Born in Manila where she took advantage of watching live artists scattered everywhere, grew up with the National Museum building as her playground because it’s where her parents worked, and has been drawing before she learned how to write, …art is Flordeliza’s air. But had a degree in Business… hmmm and got stuck in the corporate world until she finally woke up a year ago and realised what she was born to do.

Now a full time self taught artist, who has always used realism as her form of expression, she enjoys experimenting with different styles and gradually embraces abstraction to capture and present a raw emotion that she wants to engage her audience with.

When not painting, Flordeliza is teaching children how to paint,..barefoot doing contemporary dance,… swimming with the fishes, …climbing some mountain or simply singing with whoever can stand her voice.

For more information visit: http://flordeliza.net/

Participant Announcement: Liz Ramos!

The Diva returns! Back on the roster for the second time round is Liz Ramos! We have been huge fans of her work for ages and love her style, she has this awesome ability to transform any given creative platform into something hypnotically beautiful with a heavy dose of femininity. Here is a fun fact, her piece was considered to be so pretty, that last year it actually got stolen from the exhibition place! Talk about irresistible!

Here is a look at some of her work!

Here is some more information on the Diva herself!

Liz Ramos-Prado is a Peruvian Graphic Designer, currently working as an Information Graphic Artist and Illustrator for newspapers and magazines in Dubai.

She has also being participating in several artistic group exhibitions, displaying paintings, drawings, installations and digital art.

“I like keeping versatility on my work, not only with the different mediums and surfaces I work with, like pencils, acrylics, wood, paper or digital; but also producing conceptual illustrations which can depict social, political or economic issues, and a more personal work, full of female characters, focused on feminism, beauty and on the exploration of a personal reflections of life”.

Liz has been recently invited by the Jamjar to showcase in a collective art exhibition in Al Dhabi Square in Abu Dhabi with one of her MEGA that she has customized.

More of her work at: www.onemoreillustration.com

Participant Announcement: Mohammed Hindash!

It’s finally time to announce one of the most talented artists that we have worked with so far. Mohammed literally takes it to the next level with jaw dropping portraits and super detailed work, so detailed that we rather call him a photographer because of these unbelievably realistic pieces that he creates.

We have always been in awe at the artwork that he has put out and especially after he got everyone going gaga in the first exhibition with the Lady GaGa MEGA we are waiting in anticipation of what he is going to pull next.

Just feast your eyes on these beauties!

Here is some more info about the man behind the brush!

Mohammed Hindash is a Palestinian-Jordanian artist from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Born on May 14, 1989, he begun drawing ever since he could write, and with continual support from his father, it soon became his passion. Inspired by comic books throughout his teenage years, he expanded from ink drawings to painting and soon shifted his focus towards beauty portraits. After attending a summer program at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, he has had an opportunity to explore with charcoal, clay, and paint. Winning third place in the Sheikha Manal Young Artist Award for fine arts is a step in the right direction and his work will soon be frequently seen. Aiming for beauty and definition within his work and expanding his artworks with mediums that fascinate him, he perceives art as the power of beauty and what the eye can behold.

Visit his gallery at www.hindash.com!