FAISAL AL HAJRI IS A GLOBAL AND LOCAL ARTIST FROM DOHA WHO IS ALSO THE DIRECTOR OF LITERATION, ATHLETICS & ARTS AT THE UNESCO CLUB OF PIRAEUS & ISLANDS. FACT’S ANUSHAY TAIMUR KHAN HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT HIS STUDIO AT THE FIRE STATION AND LEARN MORE ABOUT HIS THOUGHTS ON WORK AND LIFE…

Hi Faisal! I am in absolute awe of your work. Can you explain your concept to us?

I am all about unlimited limits. I know that limits are limits but I am trying to be a bit stubborn and push boundaries here. I speak about the infinite perspective in life. I believe we can trigger this life to examine the idea; why just one of everything? Why one job, one family, one relationship? Personally, I believe we shouldn’t identify ourselves with any concept or idea. All we have to do is jump from minute to minute and be fully present. The advantage is that you channel a high, creative force which can always give you the urgent need of the present moment to evolve. That is the basic concept that I work with.

What is your idea of merging philosophy and art?

I am someone driven with the life purpose of erasing consciousness and this is how I live from morning to night. When I wake up, I am all about lifting the energy up, expanding consciousness, because I feel like this is the nature of the universe; the universe is expanding, rising and it is all about growth. The beautiful purpose of life is a great way to be examined through art. It is my platform so I am using all different stories to examine different ideas of consciousness. I believe my country is pushing people to be better now and that is exactly what I believe Qatar deserves as well. Therefore, my philosophy is in balance with what is needed right now.

Tell us a bit about your journey as an artist…

I used to be a yogi back in the day and I studied a lot of religions and I also studied the new era of philosophy. What opened my eyes was when I studied the evolution of human psychology because I saw a pattern in front of my eyes. The whole nature of our life is just an on-going story and we don’t need to identify any pattern. But, when you identify a perspective by putting them into groups, I feel like that is a form of attachment. From relationships to willpower, the human has identified itself to the role of being a master. The idea of love has been distorted because of this identification. I want to examine this idea in my art and have meaningful work. Everyone can take a bunch of paints and throw something on canvas to give it meaning, I wanted to have more a conversation. If art doesn’t help people to make them better, it has no meaning.

I have always been interested in culture my entire life. My journey started when I was very young and when the age of the internet was introduced, I was thrown into a world where I could learn so much. My research started online, and trickled down to meeting people who would teach me so much more. From the Qatar Airways cabin crew to the British friends I made, I just wanted to be a curtain of knowledge for culture. Therefore, it made sense to be a part of UNESCO.

What message do you aim to get across with your art?

My boss gave me the title The Prince of Culture and calls me the rainstorm of ideas. My art is about connecting people to their art, society, and their dreams. I believe I have a lot of things to say and do, so I am just dreaming of creating a cultural empire which is based on the idea of love and beauty. I need people to be awakened to their inner self and do beautiful things.

What does the future hold for you?

My dream has always been of creating a cultural empire based on love, peace, and beauty. I’m building a highly advanced module of artistic residence where hospitality industry meets the world
of arts. I have a vision which is inspired by my art world where I have taken velvet fabric, and I have embellished it with glitter and crystals and I call it, ‘One million stars”. It represents my dream to inspire & empower one million people around the world who will in return inspire another million. Art is a safer place to explore to understand life. I am grateful for Fire Station to give me this platform and I want to create the same for others out there. My people at UNESCO have really believed in me and I feel like this vision will come to life because of the trust they have put in me.

What is your message for aspiring artists?

I want them to be fully present. Be there and let the energy take over without judgment clouding their mind. The validation is stopping people from expressing themselves so all the artists just need to let their dreams take over. ✤

GO: FOLLOW @PRINCEOFCULTURE_ ON INSTAGRAM TO KEEP UP WITH THE LATEST FROM FAISAL.