NEW VISTAS: Nato Lashauri from Tbilisi was among the group of artists from all over the world who attended the Al Asmakh International Symposium of Art in Doha recently. Photos by Najeer Feroke
By Anand Holla
At the recently held third edition of the Al Asmakh International Symposium of Art, which brought to Qatar a wave of super talents from across the world, a chirpy young Georgian artist sparkled as much for her nifty works of art as for the simplicity that’s at the heart of how she understands art.
Nato Lashauri, better known as Mai, discovered new facets to the artist in her during her Doha trip. “I usually paint on paper or make collage work. This is the first time I tried painting on canvas. It was new and interesting for me, and a lot of fun.”
Even though she is in her late-20s, Mai looks like a teenager and has the spirit and energy of a child brimming with curiosity. “As a child, I would dream about wings,” she says, “So my dream comes true in each of my paintings. I really want to fly all over the world … without a visa.”
Almost all her paintings feature a woman with wings, and they are all quite masterfully made. “All my paintings are very colourful and I always have a woman with wings because I find that to be a positive motif. I paint my winged angels because I feel somebody is always there who will try and help us. So even when I am sad or angry, I make a new painting and feel positive,” she says.
Having graduated from Tbilisi State Academy of Arts located in the capital and largest city of Georgia, Mai has spent several hours in developing her artistic voice through her paintings. Though her style seems distinct, thematic and unconventional, she insists that she doesn’t really have a style.
“I don’t have a special style,” she says, rather modestly, “I try to find new things; I try everything. Currently, I am experimenting with acrylic.”
At the week-long residency set in the five-star fully-equipped camp in Sealine that hosted 50 artists from all over the world, including a few from Qatar, Mai spent a majority of her time immersed in creating art. “We also visited beautiful places in Qatar such as Souq Waqif and the Museum of Islamic Art,” she says, “The best part about the symposium was getting to meet so many artists. They were all very kind and encouraging.”
Regency Art, a Qatar-based non-profit art and culture-shaping organisation, together with Wyndham Grand Regency Doha Hotel, topped off the symposium with the launch of a grand exhibition featuring all the artists’ works. The two paintings that Mai created drew a lot of praise, too.
The first thing she does when asked about her experience here, is be grateful. “I am so happy to be here in Qatar and I consider myself very lucky. It’s the first time I was part of an art symposium and I will never forget it.”
It was through her Facebook account that Mohammed al-Atiq, General Manager of Regency Art, got in touch with her for the residency programme, after he saw her paintings posted on her Facebook wall and liked them. “Since we have many mutual artist friends, he stumbled upon my page,” Mai says.
While inspiration for her work can be anything from books, films, and music to the many life experiences, she prefers to draw her creative genius out only at night. “I paint only when everybody is asleep and I can spend time alone with my thoughts,” she says.
And there’s a reason why colours of all hues fascinate her, and trickle their way into her work. “I wish everybody discovered all the different colours in life and thereby made their lives more colourful,” she shares.
“As an artist, even in negative things, I have always tried to find something positive and that approach has helped me. I would like everybody to understand this and realise the power of ‘Now’ as it’s very important to our lives that we know how to enjoy every second of it,” she says.
