Dubai-born artist Fathima Mohiuddin, who goes by the artistic name Fatspatrol, is showcasing her work as one of six featured artists in "No Trespassing," a compelling summer exhibition at Dubai's Ishara Art Foundation. The exhibition, which runs through August 30, explores various types of boundaries—physical, cultural, and institutional—by bringing street art aesthetics into the traditional white cube gallery environment.
Mohiuddin's participation in this gallery exhibition marks a significant departure from her usual artistic venues. "I'm not typically a gallery exhibiting artist," Mohiuddin explained in an interview. "I've spent a good part of my career as an artist and curator in street art because the urban art space has just felt like a more comfortable place for me." The artist recently returned to the UAE after spending seven years abroad, making this exhibition particularly meaningful for her homecoming.
Her featured work, titled "The World Out There" (2025), delves deep into the complex relationship between personal identity and external pressures from society. The piece reflects Mohiuddin's ongoing exploration of limitations and constraints that have shaped both her artistic practice and personal experiences. "Boundaries and restrictions have been a big part of not just my work but of things I've had to navigate in my life," she shared. "My work is very much about mark-making—to say, I was here, I was unique in a world that doesn't want me to be, and I mattered."
The transition from street to gallery presented unexpected challenges that led to creative breakthroughs. Initially, Mohiuddin had planned to display small-scale works created on reclaimed urban materials such as road signs and license plates—materials that typically define her street art practice. However, when she placed these pieces in the gallery space, she discovered they "looked really small and almost as if they were intimidated by the space." This realization prompted a complete reimagining of her approach.
With encouragement from curator Priyanka Mehra, Mohiuddin embraced a bold new technique that would transform her artistic process. "I told Priyanka I wanted to bring in some texture and I'm going to paint with brooms," she revealed. This unconventional choice of tools led to the creation of a large-scale, layered installation that successfully captures the raw energy and authentic grit of street art within the refined gallery setting.
The freedom to experiment with new techniques proved to be a liberating experience for the artist. "To be able to loosen up and work freely without restriction and prerequisite was amazing. And brooms. I used brooms in my mark-making for the first time," Mohiuddin reflected. This innovative approach allowed her to maintain the authentic spirit of street art while adapting to the gallery's spatial demands.
Through her deeply personal and intuitive creative process, Mohiuddin aims to connect with viewers on a fundamental human level. Her goal extends beyond mere aesthetic appreciation to touch something deeper within the audience. "Perhaps let's say I hope it provokes a human response," she explained, emphasizing her desire to create art that resonates with the raw, authentic aspects of human experience that street art traditionally captures.
