Prolific Qatari Artist Yousef Ahmad to showcase new calligraphy-inspired exhibition in Japan
One of the most prominent Qatari artists, Yousef Ahmad, is presenting the "Dialogue of Paper--A legacy of Qatar-Japan Year of Culture" at the famous 3331 Arts Chiyoda artistic hub in Tokyo, Japan. This is an exhibition of 28 pieces created by the artist along with Japanese artist, Hayaki Nishigaki and is on display from June 10-30, 2022.
A pioneer of the modern art movement in Qatar, Ahmad brings art, history, and society together through his creations. In this series of calligraphy on palm-tree paper, Ahmad and Nishigaki created a unique visual vernacular to imagine the shared history and common artistic interpretations between Japan and Qatar.
The exhibition was organized as part of the celebrations marking 50 years since the start of diplomatic relations between Qatar and Japan, which was also the first Year of Culture partner country when the initiative was established 10 years ago. Years of Culture was established by Qatar Museums Chairperson Sheikha Al Mayassa Bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani to promote mutual understanding, recognition, and appreciation between Qatar and the world.
Aisha Ghanem Al Attiya, Director of Cultural Diplomacy, Qatar Museums said, “We are particularly honored to have built long-lasting ties with our very first Years of Culture partner – Japan – that have only grown over the past decade. Respecting and cultivating traditions while embracing modernity is something we share with our Japanese counterparts. We look forward to many more cultural exchanges between the Years of Culture initiative and cultural institutions in Japan.”
Together with Nishigaki, who most recently planned the Festival of Kyoto Sento Art and created painted works with Japanese washi paper and sumi ink with the motif of “Godzilla as a Utensil,” the two artists infused Qatari and Japanese calligraphy as an aesthetic element onto the paper to create a series of unique artworks.
Yousef Ahmad said, “Paper has played a major role in human history and Japan stands at the forefront of introducing paper-making techniques to the world in conjunction with calligraphy. Calligraphy goes far beyond simply writing characters or words. The key to true calligraphy is to bring the mind and soul into the work and to write with your heart, which is what I have done with our creations. My aim was to highlight the similarities in the cultural practices of papermaking and calligraphy between Qatar and Japan.”
Ahmad's fascination with paper emerged during early childhood when he used to play with paper planes. Later in life, he traveled to Japan, Thailand, Nepal, and India, calling himself "crazy about the paper" as he was always exploring locally handmade papers. Ahmad's constant experimentation with a variety of media led him to create his unique palm leaf paper made from locally grown Qatari palm trees.
Nishigaki has explored the desire for communication through the process of recording with ink. For the collaboration with Ahmad, Nishigaki brought paper doughs from Japan, mixing the washi dough with the palm tree fronds dough to create a neo-hybrid paper that served as the medium.
3331 Arts Chiyoda, where the exhibition will be on view, is an independent art center based in a renovated former Chiyoda City public school. Since 2010, it has served as both an artistic hub for anyone wanting to create, as well as a relaxing and open space for the community.
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