Hawzah News Agency-By integrating the beauty of Arabic letters with the modern art of graffiti, Yazeed al-Talaa was able to convert a very old wall into a stunning work of art.
The 24-year-old Palestinian artist from al-Maghazi refugee camp studied interior design at Al-Aqsa University in Gaza.
"In the beginning, it was really difficult since the Arabic language is the hardest one to use in this art form. However, I feel as though, by practising consistently, I'm beginning to master the calligraffiti style," he says.
"Eventually I began to rely totally on Arabic letters, words and sentences, often trying to convey a message that I felt needed to be delivered through the art."
The Smiling Palestinian Child painting on Gaza Street has special meaning for Talaa, since he spent a great deal of time on its creation and considers the child's smile to be more impactful than any words. He explains that the portrait embodies the innate condition of Palestinian children who smile despite their pain.
Talaa's innovation is not limited to painting on Gaza's streets and walls, but has extended into people's homes too. Several Gazans have approached him, asking him to create his artwork in their own homes after they've become fans of his work seeing it in the street.
More often than not, he is happy to oblige. "I try to draw calligrafitti so people can see the drawings and smile in spite of the suffering we are experiencing." He is keen to show the bright side of contemporary life in Gaza, he says.
The real challenge Talaa faces is the lack of resources and the lack of attention being given to contemporary arts in Gaza. Due to the ongoing blockade, many artists have had no alternative other than to be resourceful with the equipment readily available to them and to use natural resources such as feathers and twigs to create their masterpieces.
Talaa is lucky enough to have some basic painting tools available to him, but they are of a much poorer quality than he would like and he often has to improvise.
Gazans, in spite of tough living conditions and the lack of employment, are still trying to show their talents to the world in more than one field.
The Israeli siege on the Gaza Strip for the last 10 years has been a major obstacle for Talaa - and other artists - as it prevents them from travelling abroad and participating in international exhibitions to present their special brand of Palestinian calligrafitti.
