AerosolArabic is the tag that Birmingham, England based artist Mohammed Ali has given to his fusion of graffiti and Islamic art. Ali connects graffiti and Arabic calligraphy in vibrantly-hued spray-painted images with a root connection: the written word. Now, Ali is bringing his “calligraffiti” States-side, in a four-city “Arts and Islam” tour. Last Friday in Chicago, however, his mural project with a local mosque was put on hold after an anonymous caller complained about it, mistaking letters in the word Salaam for the Twin Towers. We’ll talk to Ali about his plan to work with Bronx youth on a mural, as well as how he sees his work as a medium for unity, peace, and respect.
