Written by Alefiyah Harazi
The canvas is a riot of colours as the final hues are applied. Having given the picture some geometric order, Mustafa Likoniwalla has just one more stroke to apply. The melange of forms and colours display the artist’s fascination with modern abstraction, portraits, and Islamic art.
A talented artist, mental health counsellor and teacher, Mustafa is a proponent of abstract and contemporary art from the Dawoodi Bohra community of Nairobi.
In this article, we spotlight this intuitive artist’s passion and views on artistic expression.
The blessed time warp
A road trip from Mombasa to Nairobi at the age of 9 was when the passion ignited. Ballpen and notebook in hand, Mustafa created all sorts of squiggly mess over a bumpy ride. With constant motivation, encouragement—and perhaps some creative genes from his mother—he realised at an early age that art was always going to be a calling in his life.
“One thing I do habitually is to put pen or paint to paper every single day,” said Mustafa—a discipline that has steadily rewarded him over the years.
A distinct early memory he shares was when the late Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin acknowledged one of his works titled ‘5 senses’, which was then hung in Syedna’s residence in the city at the time.
Gestures like these boosted his confidence and continue to fuel his drive to this day. “My portfolio is like a personal diary. Each painting tells me my state of mind at the time and shows how I matured over the years,” he said.
The landscape of the mind
Though Mustafa’s love for art was ironclad, his creative talent took a back seat in his early twenties as he studied psychology. It was a lukewarm relationship with few bursts of activity followed by long gaps of yearning. After he graduated, he combined his expertise with his artistic vision—creating works that strive to blend intellect and beauty.
Light, easel, action
From fantasy-like landscapes to thought-provoking figures, Mustafa’s style allows a range of interpretations.
“As soon as we try to account for what an artwork represents, we quickly find ourselves describing how that painting is for someone and was caused by someone. My work holds no barriers and provokes all emotions. I appreciate all forms of art. What is art for me is not necessarily artistic to someone else, and vice versa,” he said. He says that combining his knowledge of psychology with his experience in art helps him appreciate people and their opinions.
Therapy in Art
“The mind is like an iceberg; it floats with one-seventh of its bulk above water.” This analogy illustrates the concept of the unconscious mind—where only a small portion of our thoughts and feelings are conscious, while the vast majority remain submerged below the surface.
Mustafa believes art therapy—creative expression to combat stress—offers access to this hidden depth. Through creative activities like drawing and painting, individuals can connect with their subconscious and engage in meaningful healing.
“Art as a therapeutic tool soothes the mind. It is meditative to delve into serene, intricate layers and diagrams. All one must do is follow their instinct and allow it to guide them,” explains Mustafa.
He believes art has the potential to promote mental well-being across communities. “Art therapy helps individuals of all ages express emotions and develop coping mechanisms.”
Mustafa believes that art doesn’t always demand definition—sometimes, it simply asks for presence. In his hands, creativity becomes a quiet conversation between the inner world and the outer one, where colour, thought, and emotion find a common canvas.