“I know I’m not changing the world, but I hope I’m changing the city a little. Making it my own. Our own, not just mine. Reclaiming it.”
The city in question is Beirut, Yazan Halwani’s hometown, where he was born and raised.
It all started when he was just a boy, listening to French rap. He started tagging his name around Beirut in the mainstream graffiti style of large letters and funky colors. Soon enough he realized the name tagging didn’t represent his ideas or beliefs.
At the age of 16, he picked up an Arab calligraphy book from his uncle, and dove into Oriental geometry and architecture, finding his inspiration in Arab artistry and ultimately, finding his identity as a graffiti artist. He developed a unique style by combining Arabic calligraphy and arabesques with urban western graffiti styles.
