Welsh Street artists collaborated with Qatari artists; revealed 13 metre high mural

Two Welsh Street artists have collaborated with Qatari artists with the aim to engage diverse communities and explore each other’s values and cultures. A 13 metre high mural has been revealed by them at the centre of Doha’s cultural district, Katara. The Welsh Minister for Economy, H E Vaughan Gething, visited the two giant pieces of art as part of a visit to Qatar ahead of Wales vs England, today. 

Welsh street artists Bryce Davies aka Peaceful Progress and Hannah McGree worked with Qatari artist Muna AlBader to create the impactful wall art which combines each nation’s flowers: the vibrant yellow of the Welsh daffodil and the lilac hues of Qatar’s Qataf flower.

The mural has the theme of promoting culture and tourism and to see the potential for tourism for people to come and see. “We are representing two cultures on one wall and celebrating it. The mural brings the message of 'Unity'. Coming from Wales which is a small and a very proud nation like Qatar which has strong culture, it is interesting to work together, collaborate and find ways to equally represent both of our cultures in a way that people can understand and enjoy.” The national flower of Wales - daffodil and national flower of Qatar – Qataf has been used and they have been put together in a bouquet. 

The second participatory mural depicts words for ‘Unity’ in Welsh, English and Arabic, has also been created to involve local Qatari people and visitors by inviting them to pick up paint brushes and contribute to a section of the piece.

Davies expressed his plans to continue this theme of unity in other countries. “It would be great to have the opportunity to travel and paint and express ourselves this way and that’s why we do this." 

“A simple picture on a wall can reach a lot of people like public art has a big influence and the message does not need to be complicated, it can be really simple. This is why we do this. We love travelling and being in different cultures and experiencing them and being a part of it,” Davies added.  

The murals were created as part of the 7th annual UK Festival in Qatar which will explore the theme ‘sport for good’. The two murals were launched as part of an event with British Council, Welsh Government, Street Child United and Education Above All.

The murals are being created as part of Gwyl Cymru Festival: a programme of more than 200 events across Cymru and the world as part of a 10-day celebration of creativity during the tournament.