Mural artist enjoys being a creator at Sudbury’s annual Up Here art and music festival

Sudbury’s annual Up Here art and music festival is under way, having had its official launch on Thursday afternoon, and marking its tenth anniversary.

Every summer, dozens of musicians, muralists, and installation artists gather in Sudbury from around the world to turn the downtown into an urban art gallery. 

This year, visual artists have already been busy at work on five new murals. 

Fathima Mohiuddin, an artist who works under the name Fatspatrol, is working on a giant mural of two large human-like figures painted on a building off Elm Street that faces the CP rail line. 

She says the mural explores the human condition and how people interact with one another.

“[The mural] is very much about the human spirit, which is vulnerable and emotional and sensitive and at the same time incredibly powerful and able to harness the power of fire and resilience,” said Mohiuddin in an interview with CBC Radio’s Morning North.

“It’s sort of two sides of one coin,” she said. 

LISTEN / New murals are appearing across Sudbury for Up Here festival:

Mohiuddin has painted murals in more than 10 countries around the world including the Middle East, Europe, and Australia. 

She considers herself a ‘third culture kid’ being Indian but born and raised in the United Arab Emirates, and living between Toronto and Dubai.

Her art, she says, gives her free wind and allows her to break away from imposed identities.

“I’ve really struggled with my identity. This has been a way of having a voice in a presence that’s authentic and that is not necessarily tied to religion, race, nationality, all that sort of stuff.” 

She also says she’s at peace with the temporary aspect of mural painting, knowing her work may only be up for a time.

“You let it go. Once you’re done it’s not yours anymore anyway. You leave it to the community, and you leave it to the elements. It lasts a couple of days or a couple of years.” she says.

“What I love is when you go away and people start to post all their selfies with it, and I’m like ‘wow this wall’s been really social, and look at all the friends it’s making.'” 

Festival attendees can see other murals at various locations around the city. 

The festival wraps up Sunday evening.