Swedish muralist Domi Forrest brings myth-inspired art to the city

Swedish mural artist Domi Forrest has brought her unique fusion of mythology, nature and human connection to Pakistan, where she is creating two large-scale murals for the World Culture Festival in Karachi.

“This is my first time working with assistants, as I usually travel and paint alone,” she said The Express Tribunesmiling as she looked at her unfinished sketches.

On her first visit to Pakistan, Forrest described her experience as “an amazing one full of positive energy and kindness.”

Internationally known for her symbolic and nature-inspired works, Forrest’s art often explores the relationship between humans and the environment. Her current murals, painted for the festival, feature striking images such as a Viking boat, bear paws, a fetus enclosed in a circle and eyes reflecting the world.

“I work with symbolism,” he explained. “The Viking ship represents strength, the bear’s paws represent safety and masculinity, while the fetus reminds us of our origins, that we all come from the womb. The eyes, for me, are a window to the soul.”

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Describing her process as intuitive, Forrest said much of her work evolves naturally as she paints. “Right now, we’re just sketching. Later, I’ll fill in the lines that speak to me, and then we’ll add color,” she said, adding that working with local assistants was an inspiring change from her usual solo approach.

Despite being exhausted from traveling, the Swedish artist says she thoroughly enjoys Pakistani culture, especially its food. “I love Palak Paneer! I’ve had it before in Sweden and India, but it’s much spicier here,” she said with a laugh.

Forrest praised the World Culture Festival which brought together over a hundred artists from different countries, saying such gatherings foster global understanding through art.

“When people come together with good intentions, the energy of the earth rises,” he said. “If we take care of each other through love and art, we also take care of nature, children and the future.”

As her brushes sweep the wall, Forrest’s work steadily transforms into a visual narrative of unity and emotion, a mural that speaks not only of creativity but of shared humanity.