'Dialogue of Paper' Exhibition opens in Tokyo

 

 

“Dialogue of Papers – A legacy of Qatar Japan Year of Culture”, an exhibition organised through the Years of Culture programme to mark 50 years of diplomatic ties between Qatar and Japan, opened in Tokyo on Friday.The opening was attended by charge d’affaires Sheikh Hamad Nasser Hamad Khalid al-Thani, representing Qatar’s embassy in Japan.The exhibition, comprising 28 pieces crafted by prominent Qatari artist Yousef Ahmad and Japanese artist Hayaki Nishigaki, will be on view at the 3331 Arts Chiyoda artistic hub in Tokyo from June 10-30.Years of Culture was established in 2012 by Qatar Museums (QM) Chairperson HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani to promote mutual understanding, recognition and appreciation between Qatar and the world.Since then, the Years of Culture programme has been successful in its mission, partnering with the UK, Brazil, Germany, Turkey, India, France and other nations.Opening the event, acting deputy director of Curatorial Affairs at Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art Dr Aisha al-Misnad, who also curated the exhibition, said: “'Dialogue of Paper' is a special exhibition that marks the 10-year anniversary of Qatar’s Year of Culture and celebrates the 50 years of strong ties between Qatar and Japan.”“In fact, Japan was the inaugural Year of Culture partner, and we are privileged to be able to display these stunning pieces that represent the lasting artistic collaborations the exchange launched,” she said.“At Qatar Museums, we believe that when cultures connect, we create beautiful things,” Dr al-Misnad said. “As an outcome of this collaboration, the exhibition is a true embodiment of this sentiment.” “Dialogue of Paper” is the result of collaboration between Ahmad and Nishigaki that highlight the similarities between the cultural practices of papermaking and calligraphy in Japan and Qatar, the QM said in a statement.Together, Ahmad and Nishigaki mixed Japanese washi dough – a richly historic symbol of Japanese culture – with dough made from the fronds of the Qatari palm tree, considered a blessed tree in Arabic and Islamic culture.The result was a neo-hybrid paper that served as the literal medium, while also representing the merging of two different environments and cultures.Each artist then applied their own interpretation of calligraphy onto the paper to create a unique visual vernacular that explores both differences and similarities between the two cultural traditions.One special piece embodies the beauty that emerges when cultures connect: *We made you nations and tribes so that you may know one another features a verse from the Holy Qur'an, chosen by Ahmad, which expresses the importance of a good relationship between different nations.The chosen verse is represented as a circular sentence in the centre of the artwork, with Nishigaki decorating the space in his own artistic style.In a symbolic turn of events, the resulting artwork matched the Arabic calligraphy style called “Jeli Diwani”.Ahmad had practised this type of Arabic calligraphy for the first time in 1970, which coincidentally was also the start of the relationship between Qatar and Japan.