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Dipti Nair
Doha
Pop art was a movement that first emerged in the late '50s in the Western world, as a reaction against abstract expressionist art, which was considered empty and elitist. Pop art aimed at creating paintings or sculptures that are 'pop'ular and are images that have mass appeal. International artists like Andy Warhol have made this art form very popular, and now this art form has come to Qatar too.
Qatari artist Ali al Mulla dabbles in pop art and most specifically portrait pop art, which is about creating portraits of popular figures in the style of pop-art. Mulla depicts some of the world's most famous faces in new perspectives and colours.
For Mulla, the world is a riot of colours and he presents that in his paintings which are bright, multi-hued and instantly eye-catching. The artist's works are currently on show at the Shangri-La Hotel Doha. Additionally, his works are also on display and available for sale at Carre de Artistes at the Gate Mall.
But painting is not Mulla's only achievement. He is also a member of Qatar's National Taekwondo team and has won numerous medals representing Qatar at international platforms.
Mulla, 31, credits his achievements to his family and the tremendous support they have always given him.
"My father was a football player. He was also a body-builder and boxing champion. It was because of him that I took an interest in sports. I studied different forms of martial arts but it was in the Korean martial art Taekwondo that I found my passion. My passion for art comes from my elder sister Layla. I'm the youngest of 12 children and I have seven sisters. Layla has been and still is like my mother, and she is the one who taught me how to paint as a child. I got sport from my father and art from my sister. So it is my family that has been responsible for my interests in these widely varied areas. In fact, I'm the only one in my family to dabble in art and sports together," said Mulla.
Mulla has his own taekwondo centre in Doha where he coaches other athletes. While he feels that the sport is not given much importance in football-crazy Qatar, there are still many athletes interested in this form of martial art and who excel in it. He said that his biggest ambition is to represent Qatar in the Olympics and to be a world champion.
While Taekwondo is a martial art involving hands-on combat, even with his art, Mulla prefers a hands-on approach. The artist, who uses acrylic and oil paints to create his masterpieces, many a time, prefers to use just his fingers and hands to directly paint on the canvas.
"Using my hands to make a portrait makes me feel very close to my art. It's an amazing feeling when your hands directly touch the canvas. I cannot really explain it to you in words. It is like when you comb your hair using your fingers; it's a personalised feeling and I feel I go to another world. My fingers, especially while drawing an outline, give me the right start that I need for my picture," he said.
His portraits are composed of a pronounced outline of the subject, which he mostly creates with his fingers. The paintings then are a riotous m`lange of bright and fiery colours in a variety of shades. He creates this explosion of colours using uses a range of tools such as knives, brushes and rolls.
"I want to have an exhibition next where the paintings are made only using hands, no brushes or any tools. It will be a big challenge to do that as it is not easy to do detailing using your fingers. But I want to try it as it will make my work very unique," Mulla said.
His paintings mostly focus on faces of international and local celebrities. With painting portraits of celebrities, he wants to introduce these personalities to the Qatari people and draw attention to their contribution in their communities through their innovations and creations.
A member of Qatar Fine Arts Society (QFAS), Mulla says that he sometimes uses calligraphy to give an Arabian touch to an international character. His Arabian Mona Lisa is one of his most popular paintings.
"When people here saw my paintings in the initial exhibitions where I had only featured international celebrities, they would ask me why I was not creating portraits on Arabian characters. So, nowadays, I am putting a bit more focus on celebrities and royal families from the Middle East. But anyway, I feel that it's not the popularity of the character that matters as much as the artist's rendition of it. No one knew who Mona Lisa was before Da Vinci's painting. More than the personality, it's the colours and mixes on the portrait that matter. That's what makes it unique and real art. Only the final look matters," said Mulla.
To create his unique style of pop art portrait, Mulla was inspired by the Austrian artist Voka, who is known for his interesting portraits of world celebrities. Through his work, Mulla expresses a concept called modern realistic expressionism using imaginative techniques, which he says is new to Qatar's fine art scene.
"I have never learned professionally any form of art other than attending some art workshops. I am big admirer of Voka's works. He mixes colours like magic and makes portraits directly without any planning. He made me wonder why we only use the same dull colours in Arabian culture. There are so many interesting things one can do with colours and I want to explore it all."
Mulla is now set to put his love for colours in print and is working on an art book that will be all about colours.
"This year, I hope to come out with my first book which will talk about the colours of the Gulf region and how they are different from African or Indian colours. I will also talk about Qatar and the Qatar flag and where its colours have been inspired from."
The artist says that reinventing oneself is most important in any form.
"It is not enough to just chose a form and stick to it. We must keep researching and keep finding new techniques and styles to better ourselves with every painting. Only then can there be growth and success. My aim is to be an internationally famous artist. I think Qatar needs a big and famous artist, someone who is more than an artist and is a superstar. And, I believe that's me."
