DUBAI: US record producer Metro Boomin on Tuesday performed for the first time in Egypt to a crowd of 30,000 in front of the Pyramids of Giza, with the promotional poster for the concert designed by Egyptian artist Abdelrahman Mohammed.
Mohammed’s style incorporates elements from the golden age of Arab cinema in the 1940s to 1960s, redesigned with modern pop culture themes.
Arab News spoke to the artist, who said he is “very grateful” that his work is getting recognition.
“I was approached by the producer of Metro Boomin’s concert who works for Live Nation, and she asked me if I wanted to design the official promotional poster for the concert, and I couldn’t pass up on the opportunity,” he said.
The poster features a red and black background with the pyramids and sphinx behind the artist. It was shared on Live Nation’s Instagram account.
“I used Metro’s iconic black and red colors and incorporated his style as an artist. The concert is set in front of the Pyramids of Giza so it was a no-brainer to use that as a strong visual element for the poster,” Mohammed said.
The 24-year-old works as a full-time graphic designer and has accumulated more than 74,000 followers on Instagram.
As a teenager, Mohammed began experimenting with design but lacked the proper equipment to explore his talent.
By 2018, he was able to get his hands on a computer and delve into the world of graphic design.
“I found myself drawn to designing posters with an old-school design. I draw inspiration from old-school movie posters, specifically ones from Arab cinema, because this certain style is not very common and no one really knows much about it,” said Mohammed.
Some of his most notable pieces are fan posters for the popular series “How I Met your Mother” and blockbuster movie “Dune.”
He said: “I loved the idea of mixing between the Western style of art and classic Middle Eastern style of art.”
People are drawn to the art style because it combines their culture and heritage, as well as their musical and theatrical interests, he added.
“I love when people get excited by my work and the reaction on social media has been amazing. It’s also amazing to get some form of international recognition for my work like the opportunity to design a poster for a huge rapper,” he said.
When asked, the artist could not pick his favorite work and said each is unique in its own way, but that one piece stands out to him.
“The poster I designed for ‘Fight Club’ is special to me and I have a lot of love for it,” he added.
Hard work and passion matter more than talent in creating art, he said.
“Art is something anyone can learn and continue to learn, and if you are passionate about it and truly love your work, you will find success.”
