Amin Abbas

DUBAI: Airi Hara is a Japanese calligrapher who picked up the brush at the early age of two and is the youngest recipient of the Minister Prize for Education, Culture, Science, and Technology.

The artist is noted for her calligraphic art, which uses letters from diverse perspectives.

With her friendly personality and innocent character, Hara is a young calligraphy artist who is active in a wide range of media, events, and other genres.

“I started calligraphy when I saw my three older sisters doing it and started copying them. The first person who taught me was my mother,” she told Arab News Japan.

Hara majored in calligraphy and started working as a full-time artist a year after her graduation. She started doing performances and panels at local festivals in Japan. “From there, I gradually became more active as an artist, working on TV, exhibitions, and with large corporations,” she shared.

She takes inspiration for her calligraphy from Japanese culture. “Japan is a very interesting country with a long history and a mix of new cultures,” said Hara. “Among them, old myths and recent anime and manga have greatly influenced my work. I have learned a lot of exciting imagination and expression from her.”

The artist is currently visiting the United Arab Emirates for the first time to perform at World Art Dubai. “This is my first time visiting,” she told Arab News Japan. “I felt that the UAE is a country with many different people and many different values, but they are all neutralized. Everyone was kind and calm. I felt they were cheerful.”

Hara plans to study in the United States of America to promote her calligraphy as an art form around the world. She dreams of hosting a solo exhibition in Dubai.