Abdulaziz Sadiq

Abdulaziz Mohd Sadiq is a graphic designer at Qatar University and a cartoonist who has contributed to Qatari newspapers. Encouraged early in his career by Nasser Al-Othman, he established a prominent place in Qatar’s cartooning tradition through sustained work and perseverance.

He was born in Jasra on 23 April 1962 and grew up with six brothers. His elder brother Abdullah, then studying in Cairo, introduced him to drawing and Western music in the early 1970s. A guitar from Abdullah became his first instrument; he later taught himself the piano. His family recognised these interests and encouraged him to follow a creative path.

Drawing emerged alongside music. He consistently led his class in art despite the scarcity of materials in the 1970s and early 1980s. Jasra Cultural and Social Club gave both talents room to develop: the visual artist Youssef Ahmed trained him in drawing, while Nasser Al-Darwish and the club provided instruments and rehearsal space. With friends, he formed the modern Al-Jasra Band, which gained a following and released three albums in 1982.

At Khalid bin Al-Walid Primary School in the early 1970s, he became known among pupils for his drawing and was regarded as the school’s strongest young artist. Art teachers played an important part in developing his technique and continually encouraged him to experiment and improve.

At Doha Preparatory School, the art teacher Taj Al-Sir became another important influence. Secondary school brought greater maturity in his choice of subjects. He began working in oils and painting murals, and illustrated school wall magazines as part of cultural activities. Opportunities and materials remained limited, but he used everything available to refine his skills and develop a lasting interest in both reading and art. In 1984, he began his professional career by publishing his first cartoon in the Qatari press.

After graduating from Qatar University’s College of Education in 1989, he taught art at Abu Hanifa Primary School for two years. He then joined Qatar University’s Student Activities Department as head of the arts section, supervising talent in drawing, music and theatre.

He formally transferred from the Ministry of Education to Qatar University in 1992. His university career later took him into external relations, where he remained until 2022.

He takes particular pride in seeing his visual art and music published in local newspapers and broadcast on television. The exposure brought his work to a wider audience and connected him with people interested in the arts.

Financial limitations were the greatest obstacle at the start of his career because drawing, music and photography all required costly equipment. Publication and television exposure were also difficult to secure. Determined to reach an audience, he built relationships with the press, helped prepare and compose soundtracks for local dramas and popular competition programmes, and continued producing work with the support of relatives and friends who believed in his talent.

Producing daily newspaper cartoons presented another demanding test. Early in his career, he supplied one or more drawings a day for ten years without payment. The discipline, commitment and sacrifice required by that schedule significantly strengthened his professional craft.