The colors of the Union of the Comoros

The below images inform the work submitted by Hakim Idrissfor Design Indaba’s collaborative project with Google Arts & Culture titled Colors of Africa. Africa is known for its bold, unapologetic use of color. Stories are told in pigments, tones and hues; a kaleidoscope as diverse as the cultures and peoples of the continent. For the initiative Colors of Africa, a collaborative project with Google Arts & Culture, we asked 60 African creatives to capture the unique spirit of their country in a color which represents home to them. The projects they have created are personal and distinct stories of Africa, put into images, videos, texts and illustrations. Each artist has also attempted to articulate what being African means to their identity and view of the world.

Hakim Idriss is the creative director of Swana Studio, an arts collective in Comoros. Idriss is based between Paris and Moroni, the capital of Comoros and is an “urban calligrapher", graffiti artist and experienced art director . These two hats have allowed him to collaborate with many international brands.
Swana’s creative members have worked together for a long time. The formation of a combined endeavor was initially inspired by Idriss’ two simultaneous professional trajectories.
One as a graffiti artist, in which he is commissioned to create various murals and projects around the world. Examples include typographic creations for MontBlanc (Paris, London, Spain, Dubai, New York, Bombay), but also event stagings for brands such as Microsoft, L’Oreal, Lacoste, HSBC, TF1, CANAL+, Elle, Pizza Hut, and Sony.
During his work, Idriss met Thamud Mellouk, Hamou and Tcharo – talented individuals with the same passion as his own and with whom the Swana project was conceived.
This group of versatile artists went on to formulate a hybrid studio that works as a communication agency, a design agency and a creative studio. Their various artistic specialities mean that together they could produce live creations in every possible medium.