(MENAFN- The Peninsula) An enormous painting of old Al Zubarah Fort welcomes visitors at the 'Yousef Ahmad: Story of ingenuity' exhibition which opens to the public today at Qatar Museums Gallery at Katara.
Kept at the Weapon's Museum for over two decades, the 6m x 2m historical depiction of Al Zubarah by the pioneering Qatari artist is being shown to the public for the first time.
"It took me two years to finish the huge painting I have done in a very small studio. I started doing it around late 1990 and early 1991," Ahmad told this daily at a press preview yesterday.
The exhibition, he said, is a chance for people to get a glimpse of the past of Qatar's first and only Unesco World Heritage Site.
With more than 50 pieces on display, the expo traces the journey of the artist spanning over three decades.
It highlights the painting through a selection of his most striking works from his early career in the 1970s until today.
The expo is divided into three parts, representing the three phases in Ahmad's artistic development, from the early oil paintings to mixed media calligraphic pieces to his new conceptual artworks, showcasing his ability to develop an innovative style.
Ahmad showcases his versatility in medium and evolution in style. His traditional 1970s paintings were impressive while his three-dimensional art using homemade palm leaf are breathtaking.
"I believe my mission as a local artist is to introduce something new and present Qatar in a modern artistic approach yet not departing from traditional and local elements," he explains his innovative medium and technique.
Manufacturing paper using locally grown palm leaf and mastering an artistic style in presenting it took him years to develop, he says.
Thousands of visitors to Katara have the opportunity to see his works exhibited around the world, including the US, Europe, and the Middle East.
The works celebrate the gentle quietness of Qatar's sea, the flat expanses of its desert and the serene openness of the sky.
"As a local artist who has had the privilege to train abroad, I find so much in our environment that excites and inspires me.
"What's more, the opportunity to share my works with the people of Qatar is inspiring and humbling, and I hope that my journey encourages future generations of local artists to follow their creative dreams. I'm proud to play an important part in the development of our country's artistic community and look forward to seeing it evolve and develop at this incredibly important time," he added.
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