Abu Dhabi Graffiti
Abu Dhabi is thankfully pretty much a graffiti free-city. However, I regularly drive pass by some old condemned buildings in Khalidiya, on which is this image. It's both fascinated and puzzled me for a while now, so I photographed it (before the building gets raised to the ground). What do you make of it? Do you like it? How to interpret it? Is that a corpse bride next to the Easter Island Moai statue? How about the 2nd figure in the blue uniform next to Mr TV head in his sharp suit?
12 comments:
A sign of illegal drugs use?? :-)
No idea what it means, but I like it. Where in Khalidiya is it? I'm around there quite a bit myself.
Hi Peter,
I don't remember what I said about the washing post, but I do enjoy your blog. You take great photos - artistically and for their subject matter. I would say this is not ordinary graffiti, because the person is a real artist, probably outside the world of graffiti, too. As for the content, I think one would have to know something about the culture and idiom, which I don't! The first figure might be a universal image that we (generally) get too much of our thinking from what we see on TV. He is in a suit. Does this mean that people in the high levels of business and industry are too influenced by media? The third is an Easter Island figure. They don't speak, although this one is animated. I have no idea how it fits into your culture! I wouldn't even like to guess about the others, but I'll come back and see what other people have to say!
I like it. I'm a huge fan of graffiti and wall art.
Thanks everyone for your take on this. I'd still like to read more viewpoints.
What's the relationship between the Easter Island figure and the women? I wonder if this is a wedding ceremony? Is the figure in blue uniform a postman or a policeman?
It's doesn't seem to have much Arab influence
For those living in Abu Dhabi and want a closer look, it's located
opposite Khalidiya Park, near Abela's supermarket.
I was more interested by the realization that two homonyms have opposite meanings:
raised/razed...
I love the idiosyncrasies of English.
VS
(as to the graffiti, I doubt that this was done by locals... no relationship to the local culture... this has come from expats I'd say)
On second thought, make that a sailor pig. He's pink. :)
I'm surprised to see graffiti in Abu Dhabi. But at least they only paint on condemned walls and buildings. There's still some kind of courtesy and civility there.
And about your question: looks like a sailor cow to me.
You're right Hilda - I see a snout! Although I'm now wonder if it's a policeman as in the UK police are often referred to as 'Pigs'. The helmet looks like it's from a British 'bobby'
I agree CH, expats are the culprits here.
Thanks Tapirgal for your insight. Didn't recognise the Easter Island figure until you said. Is 'he' crying? Loved your take on Mr TV head :)
Still waiting to hear what regular blog visitors “Guyana Gyal”, “San Diego Farmgirl” and “Leif” make of it.
It would be good to hear from the 'artist' him/herself - Here's hoping!
I must confess, I like graffiti...maybe because we don't have much here. And Banksy [of you-know-where] has added new meaning to it, taken it to a different level.
You know, it's possible that an Eastern chap did this...it looks almost anti-West with the suit and tv-head, and the ghost-bride and that sailor with the weird face. Only the Easter Island figure has a face.
Long live Nigel Rees? :-D
You MUST tell us if you find the artist!
so cute!
My Pink Saturday
You Got A Posty ~ PFF
Theme Day ~ Statue
Went back this week to see how the graffiti was looking, only to find someone had graffitied over the graffiti. Ruined! :(
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