In Conversation
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Abdulaziz Yousef
Abdulaziz’s passion for art led him to choose a career as a 3D illustrator at Al Jazeera Children’s Channel. He has a regular caricature box in one of Qatar’s daily newspapers, and works with friends and other local artists on special projects. In our interview, he revealed more about his impact on the community in Qatar and talked about his motivations.
01
Creativity to me is anything that is out of the ordinary. Creativity means that I’m producing an artwork that is not expected of me and a type of production that exceeds my capabilities.
02
I love the fact that I’m unleashing these crazy ideas in my head everyday through visual art! This definition is a reflection of my thoughts to the audience.
03
I get close to the local audience through introducing ideas that make them curious and drive them to know more about my work and concept. People can view my work and projects on Instagram and Twitter and on my website.
04
I have a message to deliver to people which is introducing a new type of cartoon, or exploring beyond the box that the newspaper gives me. To me, it is a challenge and an innovation at the same time. It’s a new method that I am using to connect Qatari spirit with Qatari comic and cartoons, and to deliver them to the world! It’s not just comics and cartoons or a childish game. It is fully considered, and we are drawing it, building it and finding ways to advance it. Cartoons are no less considered than any other form of art.
05
A creative person doesn’t need me to help them to be creative – they need me to motivate them. I’m motivating people around me to explore their ideas and what they have inside them. I want to become the first individual who breaks barriers and the existing cold surroundings, to help motivate others! I’m changing the usual way of thinking about art in our community and I aim to become the first ‘different’ individual by creating a safe environment that will motivate people.
06
I want to express myself. My main mission is to deliver a message to the public.
07
We need to move and innovate, and leave behind all the clichés that we are doing towards ourselves as artists because this is actually affecting our local art scene in Qatar. We want to keep up with the global art scene because art is not just a square with some colours on it - art has a message and this is what I am trying to reach out to.
08
I would love to leave the legacy of having the first Qatari style comics and cartoons that are taught and applied in the GCC region and for it to be attributed to Qatar.
09
The cultural scene in Qatar is tied to other aspects, because Qatari society is showing an evolution and development faster than many other communities. Five years ago, we were a different society. Today, we are a totally different one! In terms of culture, I’m seeing modernity happen, I’m seeing artists expressing themselves, I’m seeing out of the ordinary, and I’m seeing unstable movements to reflect the artistic outlook of the reality we are really living in today.
Find out more about Abdulaziz and see his work here.
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