| Issue 4
Bouthayna Al Muftah
Artist extraordinaire
Bouthayna Al Muftah, one of Qatar’s most talented young artists, tells
us what inspires her creatively, and why Doha is one of the most exciting
places in the world to be an artist
Tell us about your art
Culture, heritage, folklore and
tradition. This is the basis of my
artistic expression and subject matter
– the themes and dialogue that
I have chosen to express through
different media to keep my native
land’s memories alive for generations
to come.
What inspired you to become
an artist?
Art was always a hobby of mine. As
a young girl, I always enjoyed the
experimentation process of arts and
crafts, mastering new techniques
| Art by Bouthayna Al Muftah
36
and learning to take them further in
my own way. I always found great
comfort in an art class. There was
no right or wrong – it allowed me to
be myself, as well as find my path to
discovering my own identity.
I began learning the techniques of
Chinese ink painting and calligraphy.
From there, my appreciation for
black and white art evolved into
what you see today.
What is your preferred
medium and why? You say that Qatar is the main
inspiration for your art. Why
is this?
Black ink is my favourite medium
and the basis of most of my artwork.
I have always loved monochromatic
artwork and the combination of the
rich black ink pouring onto the crisp
white paper. This passion emerged
during my years in middle school, as Recording and communicating
memories through art is my way of
staying close to my cultural history.
I like to capture glimpses from the
past and conceptualise them in a
deconstructed form, while inviting
the viewer to reflect on our history.