“Questions of the Week” is part of a weekly series in which Daily reporter Nina Fox interviews a prominent person in the Iowa State and Ames communities. To suggest a person for her to interview, submit an e-mail request to [email protected].

This week’s interview is with Youssef Asar, award-winning artist and visiting professor from Egypt. He has been selected to paint murals for ISU in honor of George Washington Carver.

Tell me a little about your background and how you became an artist.

I started painting when I was 10. I graduated from Cairo University [and] received my B.A. in applied arts and education. Then I went to Germany to further my studies in art, and then I came back to Cairo to receive a higher diploma in lithography.

Then, after that, I went on to get my master’s degree from Sydney University in Australia and started there as a high school teacher in 1968. Then I got another job in 1973 as the establishing head of the fine arts and then became the dean in 1975. I’ve taught art in Australia, Egypt and India and have been in over 50 exhibitions.

What will you be doing during your stay?

I am painting the murals right now. I want them to be finished before March. Next semester I will teach a painting course and assist in art and design courses.

I am hoping to have a big exhibition of how I see Iowa. I have my [watercolor] photographs of the campus. And also I would like to show some portraits because I have met some very interesting people. I really enjoy painting portraits.

Tell me about the murals and what they mean.

Right now, I am making three big murals about George Washington Carver. In the first mural, he comes out of slavery. This mural will be an Egyptian contribution to George Washington Carver as a sign of his nationality.

The second mural [Carver] is presenting the peanuts and sweet potatoes to the Egyptian God Toth, the God for Knowledge and Science. In return, Toth is presenting Carver lotus flowers and ankh, the symbol for eternity.

The third mural is George Washington Carver as the tree of life. His body is the trunk of the tree, his arms become the branches and his feet are the soil.

The murals are in three sections right now and will be on permanent display.

How would you describe your style of painting?

When you look at my work as a whole, it is expressionistic-realistic. Of course, I like very much impressionism. I like Van Gogh very, very much. But I like to use strong colors in the murals like orange, yellow, blue and green.

How have you adapted to Iowa State?

I love it. It’s a fantastic place. It’s a beautiful garden, and I think the man who designed it was brilliant. He designed it like a beautiful garden.

And everyone is very kind from the [College] of Design and the dean. Dean [David] Topel is an outstanding man. For him to adopt this project, it’s fantastic, and also for the [College] of Agriculture to adopt and finance it — it is brilliant.

What do you want to teach your students?

I want to teach them what they want to know and what they what to learn. If I teach them what I want them to know, then I am imposing my ideas and my style of painting.

For example, when I am teaching, I am a traffic-man because when you are working and your approach is closer to this artist, I say go get this book about him. I lead them in the right direction … according to their interests and way of expressing themselves.

Will you be doing any traveling while you’re here in the United States?

I hope so, but the problem is it’s too cold. Of course I would like to travel. Thanksgiving, I am going to visit a friend who lives in Phoenix. During Christmas, I’m going to Toledo because my sister-in-law lives there. My wife is originally Dutch and her family is scattered everywhere. So I will spend Christmas with her.

Then, from Toledo I’m going to fly to Boston, because it is my friend’s birthday. I will be there for a week. And then come back because I am here with my son. My wife couldn’t come because she is head of the English department at a prestigious school in Egypt.