"Dialogue on Paper" is the name of an art exhibition that Qatari artist Yousef Ahmed is preparing to present in Tokyo, with the aim of promoting cultural cooperation between the State of Qatar and Japan.
The exhibition is held within the framework of celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Qatar and Japan, which was also the first partner country in the first cultural years when the initiative was launched 10 years ago.
The exhibition "Dialogue on Paper, Legacy of the Year of Culture Qatar-Japan" includes 28 pieces produced by artist Youssef Ahmed and Japanese Hayaki Nishigaki, as Youssef Ahmed combines art, history and community issues together through his creations.
Youssef Ahmed and Hayaki Nishigaki are preparing to present joint works that enhance cultural cooperation between Qatar and Japan (Al Jazeera)
A language for dialogue and understanding
Youssef Ahmed - who is considered one of the pioneers of the modern art movement in Qatar - points to the status of plastic art as a cultural bridge between nations, given its importance in transmitting peoples' history, and contributes to communicating and introducing the world to the culture, customs and traditions of one country to another through the paintings that carry with it. Lots of deep meanings for the history of nations.
Ahmed believes, in a statement to Al Jazeera Net, that art is the language of dialogue and understanding between different cultures around the world, and therefore through this exhibition, a "dialogue on paper" and the artworks that it will present, address the Japanese side in order to promote dialogue, friendship and coexistence, especially through paper. and calligraphy, which are languages that everyone is fluent in.
The Qatari artist, who has been fond of paper since his early childhood, reviews the importance of paper in human civilizations and its role in recording the events of nations, citing the example of papyrus and how it played a role in conveying accurate details of the ancient Egyptian civilization.
Youssef Ahmed, who calls himself the "paper crazy", indicates that he traveled to Japan, Thailand, Nepal, India and others, because he had a constant passion to explore local handmade papers, considering that the value of paper in human civilization is no less than the invention of writing, and he also referred to Paper for the peoples of Asia, especially for the Japanese, is a sacred object according to their traditions and beliefs.
He adds that paper has played a major role in human history, and Japan is at the fore in presenting paper-making techniques to the world, in addition to the art of calligraphy, pointing out that calligraphy goes beyond just writing letters or words. You write with your heart, and this is how you implement our artwork. My goal was to highlight the similarities in the cultural practices of papermaking and calligraphy between Qatar and Japan."
A Japanese delegation looks at Qatari palm fronds in the space designated for artist Youssef Ahmed (Al Jazeera)
Palm fronds
The Qatari artist reveals the secret of his fondness for paper, saying that for more than 4 decades he has been crazy about paper, and whenever he travels to any country, he decides to buy papers and then asks himself why he does not manufacture paper himself?
He found what he was looking for in palm fronds, as he was able, after many experiments, to manufacture "Qatar palm fronds" paper, which became a common factor in all his artworks.
He points out that on the sidelines of preparing for the "Dialogue on Paper" exhibition, he decided to cooperate with the Japanese artist Hayaki Nishigaki by hosting it in his studio for 15 days, carrying the Japanese paper "Washi" paste that was combined with Qatari palm frond paste to create a new type of Paper, which was used to present joint works, which turned into a Qatari-Japanese cultural convergence through paper.
Youssef Ahmed hopes that Qatari palm fronds will be benefited from and exploited as one of the things that enhance the soft power of Qatar, given that it is one of the unique things that characterize the country, hoping that it will be used in sending invitations to official occasions, especially since Qatar is about to host the World Cup. , and thus can be presented professionally so that it gives a positive mental image that we are making the best use of our potential.
Regarding the works that he intends to present at the “Dialogue on Paper” exhibition, which will be held in Tokyo on the tenth of this June, Youssef Ahmed explains that his works will focus on the common aspects between the Qatari and Japanese cultures, using Qatari palm leaves, and emphasizing the need for friendship, peace, coexistence and reference. To Arabic calligraphy and paper, pointing out that the most prominent title of the exhibition is "Art is a bridge to communication and understanding."