A mural on a shop front illustrates electrical appliances in Wabari district of Mogadishu, Somalia, June 8, 2017. REUTERS/Feisal Omar
MOGADISHU, Somalia (Reuters) - A collection of yawing mouths and extracted teeth, booming stereo speakers and colorful hookah pipes adorn shop fronts in Somalia, a colorful contrast to the airbrushed artworks of big business.
Somali mural artist Muawiye Hussein Sidow, also known as "Shik Shik", is the man responsible for the art that features on more than 100 shops, including barbers, tea shops and supermarkets across Mogadishu.
A mural on a shop front illustrates a beauty salon and traditional Somali henna in Hodan district of Mogadishu, Somalia, June 8, 2017. REUTERS/Feisal Omar
Click here for photo essay: http://reut.rs/2uG2MSo
Sidow's work has a hand-drawn simplicity, usually involving bright, eye-catching colors. Some pieces stretch over several meters.
Sidow's father was a commercial artist, who passed his knowledge and skills on to his son.
A mural on a shop front illustrates electrical appliances and cosmetics in Hamarweyne district of Mogadishu, Somalia, June 8, 2017. REUTERS/Feisal Omar
Sidow, 31, took on his father's business in 1998 and his painting supports not only his own family, but helps sustain his dad as well as many others.
"I make the pictures to get daily food for my wife and three kids," he told Reuters.
"I also give daily food to (my) retired old father. Now I have become an art teacher there are many artists whom I taught how to make pictures, and they also get their daily food."
Somali dentist Hassan Ali, 35, sits inside his dental clinic with murals painted on the walls in Hamarweyne district of Mogadishu, Somalia, June 7, 2017. REUTERS/Feisal Omar
Sidow said he never duplicated murals and that inspiration came from Somali daily life.
Aside from feeding his family and brightening up the urban landscape, Sidow still has ambitions to do more with his art.
"God willing, I hope I will also make pictures in the neighboring countries."
A mural is seen on a wall of a shop in Hodan district of Mogadishu, Somalia, June 10, 2017. REUTERS/Feisal Omar
(Reporting by Feisal Omar; Writing by Mark Hanrahan in London; Editing by Jane Merriman)
A mural illustrating educational classes is seen on the outside of a building in Wabari district of Mogadishu, Somalia, June 10, 2017. REUTERS/Feisal OmarA mural on the wall of a fast food store illustrates food and drinks in Wabari district of Mogadishu, Somalia, June 8, 2017. REUTERS/Feisal Omar A mural showing spare parts for vehicles is seen on a wall of a shop in Hodan district of Mogadishu, Somalia, June 10, 2017. REUTERS/Feisal Omar A mural on a shop front shows a PlayStation 3 in Hamarweyne district of Mogadishu, Somalia, June 8, 2017. REUTERS/Feisal Omar A mural on a shop front shows traditional Somali tools and equipment in Hamarweyne district of Mogadishu, Somalia, June 10, 2017. REUTERS/Feisal Omar A mural shows lions on a wall of the Shik Shik art shop in Hamarweyne district of Mogadishu, Somalia, June 8, 2017. REUTERS/Feisal Omar An illustration prohibiting weapons, broken bottles, cigarettes and military is seen on a wall of a stadium in Hodan district of Mogadishu, Somalia, June 13, 2017. REUTERS/Feisal Omar A mural is seen on a wall of a shop in Hodan district of Mogadishu, Somalia, June 10, 2017. REUTERS/Feisal Omar A mural shows spare parts for vehicles on a wall of a shop in Hodan district of Mogadishu, Somalia, June 10, 2017. REUTERS/Feisal Omar A mural depicting a soccer player is seen on a wall of a stadium in Hodan district of Mogadishu, Somalia, June 13, 2017. REUTERS/Feisal Omar A mural illustrating electronic appliances is seen on a wall of a shop in Hamarweyne district of Mogadishu, Somalia, June 8, 2017. REUTERS/Feisal Omar A mural on the wall of a shop illustrates electrical appliances, cosmetics and beverages in Hamarweyne district of Mogadishu, Somalia, June 8, 2017. REUTERS/Feisal Omar
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