Arabic calligraphy artist Khaled Almesawy says the World Cup has been nice for his artwork enterprise and for Qatar.
Doha, Qatar – Exterior the Souq Artwork Centre in Doha’s fashionable Souq Waqif market, Qatar-based artist Khaled Almesawy has been inundated with orders from residents and soccer World Cup guests for his distinctive calligraphy sketches of Argentina’s famous person Lionel Messi.
From Dumyat metropolis in Egypt, Almesawy stated individuals have been amazed not solely by his Messi portraits but additionally his Arabic-inspired calligraphy artwork – particularly foreigners who have been seeing this artwork kind for the primary time.
“He’s the preferred footballer who individuals need me to attract as a result of everybody loves Messi,” the Egyptian artist instructed Al Jazeera, whereas in the course of sketching certainly one of his many Messi calligraphy-based portraits utilizing solely the Argentinian’s identify written in Arabic.
“I like their response, particularly of foreigners … they’ve been sharing my sketches on Instagram and different social media,” he stated.
Holding his drawings of Messi firm was one other sketch of Argentina’s legendary Diego Maradona, who was the artist’s all-time favorite participant earlier than Messi took the footballing world by storm some 17 years in the past.
In accordance with Almesawy, except for the admiration individuals have for Messi’s genius on the pitch, they’re additionally excited to see him within the flesh and presumably, lastly, successful a World Cup.
From the variety of individuals carrying Messi soccer jerseys to these chanting his identify and waving flags bearing his picture, typically subsequent to Maradona, no different participant at this event has been as fashionable as Messi.
Regardless of a number of trophies and accolades, the World Cup has alluded Messi since he first made an look on the event in 2006. Sunday’s upcoming closing in opposition to reigning champions France is prone to be the 35-year-old Argentinian’s final probability to win that title, after enjoying in a complete of 5 World Cups.
Messi and Argentina’s final World Cup closing was in 2014 in Brazil, the place they misplaced 1-0 to Germany in additional time.
‘It’s been actually good’
Almesawy, who has been residing in Qatar for 25 years, instructed Al Jazeera how good the FIFA World Cup has been for him and for the nation he calls house, as soccer fever and tourism have gripped the diminutive gulf nation over the previous a number of weeks.
“I want the World Cup would might happen each 4 years in Doha,” he stated. “It’s been actually good for me personally and professionally,” he stated.
For the reason that World Cup kicked off final month, Almesawy stated he has not taken a single time off. Regardless of the gruelling schedule, he stated his artwork was “all the things” to him.
“I are available at 3-4pm (12:00-13:00 GMT) and I’m supposed to depart at 10pm (19:00 GMT). However I simply preserve drawing for hours after,” he stated.
“It’s my life. I like what I do.”