ALTAAF Sayed from Rylands is proving that his disability does not define his ability and spends his time creating art as a form of expression.
Altaaf has Adrenomyeloneuropathy, also known as AMN, which is an inherited condition that affects the spinal cord. He makes use of a wheelchair and sometimes crutches to cover small distances.
Just four months ago, he picked up a stencil and some spray paint and allowed his creative juices to flow, allowing his art pieces to get viewers to think and create a form of illusion.
Drawing inspiration from legendary British street artist Banksy, Sayed explained: “I was bored and needed something to do to use my time because, since being medically boarded, I need to use my spare time.
"I am a Banksy-inspired artist, using stencil and spray paint on canvas. What inspires my art is my everyday existence and the troubles of life. My work explored identity, illness and fragmentation through the visual language of street art and stencil aesthetics.
"I use humour, familiar symbols and simple forms to draw viewers in then disrupt them with signs of damage, instability and decay. Much of the work is influenced by lived experience with genetic disease, where the body becomes both structure and site of failure.
"Rather than illustrating explanations, I aim to create images that reveal themselves slowly, where meaning merges through discomfort, repetition and restraint.”
When he is not coming up with various forms of artistry, he is in the kitchen cooking and expressing with food or roasting coffee.
Altaaf added: “My art is for sale. I sold one already to a dude in Johannesburg, but I am keen to sell more.
"I would like the public to know that, at times, having a disability is not easy for me. I go through a lot, but when they look at my art there is a message behind it and I hope they get that message.”
Altaaf did an art exhibition pop up on the first Thursday of December. Check out his art on Instagram @altaaf.sayed or if you are interested in getting some art for yourself or a loved one this festive then contact 062 433 0733.