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Maneesh Bakshi
Doha
ART is one of the most effective modes of expression that can arouse the sentiments of its viewer as seen in the case of the 'Tamim Al Majd' mural that dots every nook and cranny of Qatar, gaining a status of an iconic imagery which left no one untouched, said multi-faceted Qatari artist Ali al Mulla.
Talking about the iconic stature acquired by the 'Tamim al Majd' portrait of the Emir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani, Ali al Mulla, who is a working Qatari artist and a member of the Qatar Fine Arts Society, said:"The portrait 'Tamim al Majd' has become a symbol that encapsulates the unity and political resolve of Qatari people in its true sense."
"The beauty of this art lies in its simplistic representation yet the magnitude of influence that it had on the Qatari people that triggered a mass movement involving residents of Qatar no matter to what race, creed or nationality they belong and stand against the injustice that their country was subjected to," Mulla told Qatar Tribune recently.
He added,"The portrait of 'Tamim al Majd' has acquired a figure of a hero that today stands for the people living in Qatar. Be they Qataris or non-Qataris, the portrait has earned respect in the hearts of everybody who lives in Qatar and those who stand against the injustice of any kind."
Mulla is well known among the art circles of Doha as a young and innovative artist who has displayed his work in many national exhibitions, the latest being at Hotel Shangri-La where his works were displayed for public viewing and also during the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) international meeting on freedom of expression, held in Doha recently.
Talking about his art, he said,"Art is something that is very much part of my daily routine. I love to draw portraits. Many of my subjects in the beginning were about the personalities who have influenced me in some way or the other. One of my favourites among my earlier portraits was that of famous rock star Jimi Hendrix."
He continued,"But as I gradually matured as an artist, lot many things that I would see around me started to influence me. I was greatly influenced by my cultural roots and my Qatari identity. While on one end I was influenced by the use of colours in the western art, on the other I was drawing inspirations from my own cultural heritage that played a role in my development as an artist."
Talking about his future projects, Mulla said,"I hope to work on a larger canvas and paint HH the Emir someday. Besides, I intend to make portraits of the famous Qatari people of substance and spread a message of peace and brotherhood through my art to a much wider audience."
