Inspired by One Piece, Abdulla Lutfi's art is a love letter to both Japan and the UAE

The artist, who is on the autism spectrum, only draws in black and white

Abdulla Lutfi's latest exhibition is on display at Mestaria Gallery in Alserkal Avenue. Chris Whiteoak / The National

What is savant syndrome? As The National sits down with Emirati artist Abdulla Lutfi, he introduces himself as being on the autism spectrum – and having the condition.

Simply put, it is “a rare condition in which persons with various developmental disorders, including autistic disorder, have an amazing ability and talent", according to SSM Health Treffert Center, a US-based treatment centre for autism, behaviour and communication disorders. Looking at Lutfi's work, the definition becomes evident.

And this undeniable skill and talent shines in his latest exhibition, Luffy Lutfi: Emirati Manga. The pieces range in size but all have a common theme – placing characters from the popular anime and manga series One Piece into an Emirati setting.

Speaking to Lutfi during the opening of his exhibition at Dubai's Mestaria Gallery in Alserkal Avenue, his love for all things Japan, including but not restricted to anime, is inescapable. Before we formally start the interview, Lutfi is already telling our photographer that his favourite two cities are London and Tokyo.

He adds: “My favourite place in Tokyo is Akihabara because that's where all the anime is, and I love everything there, the food as well is very nice.”

Jun Imanishi, consul general of Japan, visits Abdulla Lutfi's exhibition at Mestaria Gallery in Alserkal Avenue. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Lutfi says he was introduced to One Piece in 2018, immediately falling in love with the show and watching every episode. He was left feeling inspired, as translated through his art. They feature characters such as Luffy, Zoro and Blackbeard, dressed in Emirati clothes and speaking in both Arabic and English.

Each piece throughout the exhibition is in black and white. It's Lutfi’s signature style. “When I used to use colour, it did not inspire me because colour is just too much work," he says. "It was so much stress for me. So, I prefer doing black and white, and it came out way better than colour.”

His work doesn't lack anything by being restricted to black and white. On the contrary, they feel like pages of manga stories enlarged to include more detail. There’s so much going on in every piece, and it really takes standing in front of one of Lutfi’s drawings to appreciate the amount of work that goes into each one.

Lutfi’s artistic journey began in school. When he graduated, it was clear to his parents that pursuing a career as an artist was most suitable for their son, and he skipped university to attend Mawaheb in Dubai, a centre self-described as a place “aimed at providing a creative haven for adults with special needs to hone their artistic expression".

Luffy Lutfi: Emirati Manga will be on display until January 2. Chris Whiteoak / The National

During his time at Mawaheb, Lutfi met Gulshan Kavarana, who he describes as his art mentor and the person he credits the most with growing his talent. Even after leaving Mawaheb, Lutfi and his mentor went on to open an art studio in Dubai's Bastakiya area called Next Chapter. He chose the destination to "let the tourists see my work", and enjoys seeing them stop by.

For Lutfi, showcasing his work is a part of his career which he particularly loves, often inviting collectors and connoisseurs to visit his exhibitions and purchase his art. But he also wants his work to be accessible. For one thing, he makes prints of his artwork that are sold at a much more affordable price. Elsewhere, he creates illustrations to adorn everyday items such as water bottles sold in the Museum of the Future gift shop.

His work and success themselves serve as messages to the wider world, but Lutfi chooses to use his voice to speak up for people like him, too. “Please parents, do not disrespect the autistic people. Just love and accept them the way they are and help them support their life better and give them hope," he adds, as we begin to wrap things up.

He also had a message to students around the world who interact with people on the autism spectrum, adding: “Don't bully autistic people for how they're born differently. Just accept them and be friends with them. Autistic people are also human beings like me ... accept them with love and hope.”

Luffy Lutfi: Emirati Manga is on display at Mestaria Gallery until 2 January