Defining the law of graffiti

The smell of paint and turpentine pierces your senses as you walk into the auto garage on Eastleigh’s Third Street. There is the sound of machines as they whirr and hiss in the hands of mechanics and designers alike, busy making designs that will add their mark to the city’s iconic matatu culture.

Welcome to the workshop of Mohammed Kartarchand, originator of Moha Grafix, Nairobi’s favourite matatu design crew. Moha, as he is popularly known, shows me some of the “ma-three” (matatus) he is working on.

The brilliantly coloured vehicles are a work of art and for a moment, something reminiscent of a scene from MTV’s Pimp My Ride.

Even to the casual observer one can easily tell that he is a master of his work as he demonstrates his freehand airbrush technique – a skill that few painters in the industry have.

“I like creating new and original designs each time, which is why I use freehand airbrushing. It means that I am putting my skills as an artist to work,” says Moha, adding that it allows him to be creative on-the-fly.

Although he has never been formally trained in the arts, his passion for painting coupled with his love for cars led him down this path of matatu design in 2001.

“I have always been a gifted artist. Even in school I was known for painting and drawing. So I thought the best way to showcase my creativity was by painting matatus because I also love cars,” he says.

Throughout the interview, he repeatedly refers to his work as a moving display of art, something that keeps heads turning as the city crawlers shove past traffic.

In art, the creative process is considered paramount to the final product. It is this plan that allows the artists to clearly develop and realise an idea to its full potential. “First we sit down with the client and decide on the dominant colour, then I ask the client to specify what he wants, like name of the vehicle and any other form of branding,” says Moha of his creative process adding that this planning process is done with a team that is made up of the client, himself and his crew.

“It is from this I create a theme, pitch it to the client and the hard work begins,” he says.

Unlike many conventional artists, Moha begins working directly on the vehicle without first putting anything down on paper. He even invites the client to watch as he and his team get down to work.

“After deciding on the theme, I create all my designs as I go along,” he reveals.

Original designs

This, he says, helps to keep his work original.

Aside from the paint jobs, his workshop in Eastleigh caters for complete and comprehensive matatu design, including interior designs and other mechanical alterations.

Painting a matatu can cost anything from Sh45,000 to Sh200,000, although there have been some paint jobs that can cost up to Sh1.5 million for a full body kit, interior and exterior art work at this one-stop shop for matatu design.

“We do everything here; I employ 15 to 20 guys, including mechanics, music engineers, interior designers and other engineers,” reveals Moha.

Watching his crew at work, one realises the need for synergy in this kind of endeavour and the important value each brings to the process. The graffiti is in colours and designs that are varied as they are bright.

Across the city, many matatus bear the brand name ‘Moha Grafix’. So popular is Moha’s work that he was recently among a select few artists picked by Barclays Bank as part of their activities to mark 100 years of doing business in Kenya, acknowledging the uniquely Kenyan aspect of his art, its youthfulness and importance as a source of income. His graffiti, alongside the works done by other artists, will be unveiled by the bank at the peak of the anniversary celebrations.

Moha says that he likes to break the monotony in his work so that only a trained eye can tell the work of his hands, although his signature technique is freehand airbrushing

In his free time, Moha also paints motorbikes, helmets and bicycles.

“To be an urban artist in Nairobi needs creativity and hard work. I have mentored many young artists who are out there doing their own thing, it is great to see the impact our work has on others,” he concludes.