Years of Culture, Qatar Museums and Katara Cultural Village bring Qatar, Japan and Indonesia together in 'Dialogue of Papers'

Doha, Qatar - Years of Culture, partnering with Qatar Museums and Katara Cultural Village, launched Dialogue of Papers at Katara Cultural Village. The exhibition, open until October 4, 2026, showcases a 50-year artistic journey between Qatar and Japan, now expanded to include Indonesia.

The project began in 2022, when Qatari artist Yousef Ahmad and Japanese artist Hayaki Nishigaki collaborated, merging palm pulp from Qatar with Japanese kozo fibres. This created handmade paper, serving as the basis for 28 works combining Arabic and Japanese calligraphy. The exhibition traveled to Tokyo at 3331 Arts Chiyoda.

The collaboration broadened in 2023, with Indonesian artist Widi Pangestu joining the project. Drawing from Qatar's deserts and Indonesia's forests, Pangestu and Ahmad created 36 works using Qatari palm, Indonesian abaca, and mulberry fibres. The exhibition debuted at the Emiria Soenassa Gallery in Jakarta.

Dr. Aisha Abdullah Al Misnad, Dialogue of Papers' curator, explained that paper embodies the landscape it originates from, the creator's knowledge, and the artist's visual traditions. She added that merging the Japanese and Indonesian chapters in Doha reveals the evolving dialogue between the cultures.

Salem Mabkhout Al Marri, Director of Public Relations at Katara Cultural Village, emphasized that the exhibition embodies Katara's mission to unite artists, ideas, and cultural traditions globally. The show highlights the connections between Qatar, Japan, and Indonesia, created by these artists.