By Abukar Osman - Reporter
Mogadishu, 30 August 2026 - Somali artist Abdinasir Abdiqadir Mohamed, known as 4C, started his career with limited resources but a strong determination to create.
Speaking on Barbaarta Podcast, hosted by Abukar Osman and broadcast by Dawan, 4C traced his journey from Bosaso, where art gradually became an important part of his life while other students focused on football and other sports, to representing Somalia at La Biennale di Venezia.
Starting with wall paint
Early on, the biggest barrier was materials. Instead of having access to acrylic, oil paints and other materials commonly used by professional artists, he worked with whatever was available locally, including Tubeeti iyo Ismaalto, a type of paint commonly used for walls and houses.
In school, he participated in an art competition where he was given watercolor, a material he had never worked with before. He experimented and produced one of the strongest works in the competition. He was fascinated by the materials and wanted to save the remaining paint to continue practicing.
His mother and uncle were among the people who encouraged his development.
A major change came in 2022, when 4C traveled to Nairobi for an artist residency. There, he saw artists creating work from ordinary materials such as paper, waste, wood and other discarded objects, transforming items with little apparent value into creative works. He also observed that Nairobi had exhibition spaces, museums, universities and better access to art materials.
From Nairobi to Venice
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He later traveled to Italy to participate in La Biennale di Venezia, one of the world's major contemporary art exhibitions. According to 4C, it was the first time Somalia participated. His role was to represent Somalia through live painting.
His goal was to show visitors that Somali artists exist and have the ability to express themselves and compete on the international stage, he said. He said his selection came after organizers searched for a Somali artist with the experience and ability to represent the country, based on his work and experience.
At the exhibition, he met artists from the United States, Britain, Italy, France, Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya. He said he learned that the meaning behind an artwork is as important as the technical skill used to create it.
Choosing to return
After reaching Europe, a destination many young Somalis associate with irregular migration, he chose to return to Somalia. Many people asked him why he returned after reaching Europe. He said he was still satisfied with his country despite challenges, and described his decision as part of his desire to build a legacy, a community and a future in Somalia. He said irregular migration was never a serious option for him and that he looked for legal ways to travel internationally, including artist residencies, invitations, professional organizations and career networks.
He divides his work into two main categories: commissioned work, where a client asks an artist to create something specific, and a body of work, where an artist develops personal work based on stories, events, social questions and ideas.
Recognition did not come quickly. In 2021, during a difficult period of unemployment, 4C said he left home with one dollar for lunch, gave it to someone who needed help at a mosque in Hamar Weyne, and returned to work without eating. Hours later, someone approached him for help restoring an old signature. Through that job, he earned $300, which became the first significant payment from his artistic work.
He received his first major recognition in 2022 after returning from Nairobi through a program connected to the Sustainable Development Goals after creating artwork focused on young people working to clean and improve the environment.
He said Somalia has a long history of art, but still needs more institutions, training programs, materials and opportunities for artists.