RexChouk: Who Is That Artist In the Mask?

by Alexandra Mansilla

RexChouk: Who Is That Artist In the Mask?

2 Sept 2024

You have probably seen the vibrant artwork on Instagram — mostly in pink and purple, featuring a mysterious figure in a mask that looks like a skull. That is the work of RexChouk, who always appears masked, keeping his identity hidden. Don’t bother searching for unmasked photos — there aren’t any (we have tried to do it).

Rex’s secrecy is reminiscent of Banksy, but unlike Banksy, he is more open to giving interviews.

Instagram: @rexchouk

So, what do we know about Rex?

Rex was born in 1990 in Saudi Arabia and began his artistic journey in 2013. His work is a contemporary commentary on the system, filled with characters and expressions influenced by global pop culture. Interestingly, at the beginning Rex wasn’t always interested in art. He didn’t even imagine that he would one day become an artist. It was a Keith Haring exhibition in New York that opened his eyes to the freedom and expression that art could offer. Now, Haring’s influence on Rex’s work is clearly evident, along with his ability to use humour and innocent characters to convey messages about everything from daily life to regional events.

Rex once told Hypebeast: “When I first started, I didn’t really share my work — it was just about creating for myself. I was beginning to formulate my own ideas about the system, my background, my culture, and the internal struggles we used to go through. That’s when I started creating artworks with hidden messages. I love this exploration of who we are and what we’re trying to do, and how I can portray that in a way that might change someone’s mind or even spark a conversation.”

Instagram: @rexchouk

Through his work, he shares stories about Saudi Arabia, highlighting different sides of the region and offering his own reflections to the world.

From that interview to Hypebeast: “I feel like talking about Saudi is a responsibility. When I'm doing it to people from abroad, they don't understand who we are. It’s not just about how people react, but how it’s perceived and, hopefully, what kind of conversations it can spark.”

But why does he wear the mask? He explained it to Harper's Bazaar Arabia. For him, it is about being a blank canvas. He allows the audience to project their own interpretations of his art without being influenced by his personal identity. “I want to evoke this curiosity in people, to get them to wonder: ‘Who is that guy?’” says Rex.

Instagram: @rexchouk

by Alexandra Mansilla