By Honorary Reporter Reem Wagialla from Sudan
Photo by = Ahmed Mahmoud

Libyan artist Ahmed Mahmoud, known professionally as “Amedo,” is on a unique artistic journey that transcends borders. Ahmed takes us on a captivating tour of his creative world, inspired by Korean culture, particularly the hit Korean noir-drama “Squid Game.”

The following are excerpts from an email interview on Jan. 11.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share your journey as an artist?
My name is Ahmed Mahmoud, and my fame name is "Amedo", I am 29 years old, and I live in Benghazi, Libya. I graduated from Human Medical School, which makes me a doctor and an artist at the same time. From my name, Amedo, you can see my great passion for Asian culture. I started painting when I was a child but stopped during medical school and returned to it after graduation with a greater passion. My love for painting began with the animated cartoons I watched as a child. I decided to make cards for my favorite cartoons myself and that’s when I discovered my talent. I now work as a graffiti painter, and share special content that I developed in my own style as a result of my deep passion for art on social media platforms.

What inspired you to create artwork based on Squid Game?

When I watched “Squid Game,” I surrendered my imagination to the amazing events shown in the series. I immersed myself in the depth of the show with great passion after watching it. The difference between me and some of the viewers is that I knew about Korean culture before “Squid Game” aired, and I had previously seen all the games that appeared in the series. For me, mixing these games with my art was very natural because Korean culture and art are part of my personality that I grew up with.

Can you share your Squid Game-inspired artworks, and tell us the theme or concept behind them?
I created four works inspired by the games from "Squid Game." The first was made with sugar candy and I used needles to carve shapes like an umbrella, a triangle and a circle, which inspired me to make Player 456 in the same way, so I carved with the needle on the board to draw him. The second depicts the character “Thanos” taking the pills that appeared in the series, but instead of pills, I used gum to make him. This was a favorite of the masses. The third was the "Salesman” who recruits players using “Ddakji” which is a traditional Korean game played with folded paper tiles. I made the “Ddakji” by dipping it in colors, and then colored the board to draw him. The fourth captures the song "The Circle.” As I listened to it, it felt like my ears were getting bigger because of the impact of this song. This is where the idea of this work came from; I decided to express this effect by drawing it with my ears, as if they were out of control and moving on their own to draw Player 230. In all these paintings, I decided to live the moment of the show while drawing. I bought the same clothes as the show's players, covered myself in color, and set a countdown as if I were in the game.

Are there any hidden symbols or references within your artwork?
Many symbols are used in my art, but the most important message is "Nothing is impossible." If you like your work, you can achieve amazing things.

What advice would you give to aspiring artists and is there anything you would like to add?
I would advise and urge everyone to love what they truly do because they can certainly do wonders. I hope to visit Korea one day, and be able to paint my creative works on one of its walls. And finally, I thank you all for your attention, and I hope I continue to make more art for Korea and for the whole world. I send love from Libya to Korea.

With youthful enthusiasm and boundless creativity, artist Ahmed "Amedo" concludes the interview. He continues to create, inspired by a world rich in cultures and ideas. His story is proof that art has no boundaries and that creativity can blossom anywhere and anytime. With each new painting, Amedo demonstrates that art is not merely a hobby but a universal language that unites people and cultures.

msjeon22@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.