Crossing continents with Amer

Interview by James Hobbs

Singapore skyline

Amer grew up in Malaysia, and is now a London-based architect. He is a constant traveller, visiting more than 30 countries in the past eight years with his sketchbook and pens – “I stopped counting in 2012,” he says.

Has travelling always interested you?

It started when I was at university back in Malaysia. It is close to Singapore so naturally the city state became my first country to visit. I’ve visited it more than 10 times in two years. Singapore was quite an eye-opener for me as it was very modern, efficient and clean.

You seem to like the big panoramas rather than zooming in. What was it you liked about this scene?

I’m fixated with skylines. I know it takes a lot of hard work and thousands of hours to design one building. This becomes more interesting when I see a collection of tall buildings congregated in one small area. It’s like thousands of hours multiplied by many.

Berlin Cathedral, Germany

Which countries have you visited in the last 12 months?

Australia, Brazil, Argentina, United Arab Emirates (three times), Japan, Germany, Singapore and Malaysia (four times). I’m in a state of disbelief as I’m writing it out. I never thought I could travel that much within a year.

How do you work? Do you have a list of subjects you want to draw before you arrive in a city?

Coming from an architectural and urban design background, I like to draw interesting-looking buildings or the skyline of a city. Sometimes I draw interesting moments I see on my travels. I never have a list. As an artist, I draw according to my mood and the amount of time I have. A list would give me pressure to achieve things, and I don’t really like that during my holidays.

Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

This skyline of Abu Dhabi is very different from the one in Singapore.

The newish Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is the most beautiful mosque I’ve seen, except the Alhambra, which is technically not a mosque any more. The quality of materials and craftsmanship of every single part is incredible. I feel very privileged to be able to visit it, as with any great building, let alone draw it. There’s always a sense of awe when drawing important landmarks.

Your drawing kit appears to be pretty minimal: just Moleskine sketchbooks and Staedtler pens?

Yes. But I usually bring four or five Staedtler pens, mostly 0.1 and at least a 0.3 or 0.5. Sometimes I bring other types of pen but I rarely use them. It helps that I stick to the same style wherever I go and that I don’t use colour.

Senso-ji Temple, Tokyo, Japan

The Tokyo drawing: you seem high up. Where did you draw that from?

I drew it from the coffee shop on the terrace level of the Asakusa Center. The place was quiet but it had an amazing view of Tokyo’s Senso-ji Temple, which was the subject of my drawing.

Which are the most memorable places you have visited, and why?

Egypt is memorable since it spurred my interest in global travel. Having said that, my two favourite countries to visit are India and Japan. They are two completely contrasting places. India is an assault on the senses and I loved the many train journeys I’ve undertaken there. India is like stepping into the past, but Japan is like going into the future. I loved the food, the culture and the architecture of the country. For such a large city, Tokyo is by far the safest city on the planet. Countless times I have seen people leave their bag or wallet on the table and nobody bothers to even look at it.

Sydney harbour, Australia

How differently are you treated as an artist around the world? Do people respond to you as you draw in the street differently in, say, Asia than Europe?

The more I travel, the more I realise how interested people are in urban sketchers – yes, we could be international celebrities! I normally get some sort of response if I draw out in the open. In Europe, people just look over my shoulder and acknowledge the sketch.

In Asia, however, you get treated more like a star – there’s a chance someone will take photos of me or with me, or try to exchange email or Facebook contacts. It happened to me a few weeks ago in Penang, Malaysia. I’ve also been interviewed by a journalist and my work published while sketching the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, a few days before its official opening. Urban sketching is a great way to engage with locals during your travels.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Amer drawing in Bhaktapur, India

Where are the best places to draw in your opinion?

I’d like to say Bhaktapur, Nepal. The city is very photogenic with beautiful old buildings. It’s like stepping back in time and not as busy as Kathmandu. Delhi can be amazing too, if not for the constant interrogation, meaning it is harder to sketch, and the very chaotic nature of the city. You have to be patient in Delhi, but not as much as in Bhaktapur.

Where are you going next?

I’m set to go to São Paulo this month and may add a side-trip somewhere in the Middle East – either Beirut, Amman, Tehran or Cyprus. I’ll be in Paris for the marathon in April, then to São Paulo again in May, Malaysia in July and Berlin in September. Those are fixed plans. Between those dates I usually throw in a few more trips including at least one to Malaysia. Oh, I might visit my parents in Abu Dhabi for the weekend next week…

Follow Amer on his travels on Instagram @TendToTravel.