Ahmed Hassan: The Doctor Who Recreates History with Matchsticks

Whenever your eyes fall on a model crafted by him, know it was designed with love. Ahmed Hassan is a doctor with an artistic spirit who skillfully recreates historical buildings using matchsticks.

 

You’ll find yourself captivated, wondering how all those matchsticks hold together to form such a balanced and precise structure. The secret lies in the fact that Dr. Ahmed Hassan pours love into every model he creates, mastering the art of showcasing the architectural beauty of many historical and touristic buildings.

 

Dr. Ahmed Hassan spoke to Egypt Today about the beginnings of his artistic hobby—designing models from matchsticks. He said, “I started pursuing my hobby when I was a student in the faculty of medicine, specifically in 1980. However, I became busy with my studies and work. I felt nostalgic for it and resumed forming models from matchsticks in 2013. With practice, I developed my skills, especially since the material I use—matchsticks—is not flexible. I had to find alternative solutions to deal with this challenge.”

 

He continued, “I’ve designed models of historical buildings and landmarks both inside and outside Egypt, such as the Baron Palace, Sakakini Palace, the Muhammad Ali Mosque, and buildings that no longer exist, like the Alexandria Lighthouse. I choose buildings that captivate me with their architecture, like the Al-Sahaba Mosque, which inspired me with its design. Matchsticks, being suited for stone buildings, help me craft these structures. However, modern buildings don’t align well with the material I use.”

 

Regarding the challenges he faces while designing, he said, “All designs are difficult, especially when it comes to domes or curves, as they require several stages involving wireframes and matchsticks. All the models are hollow inside. One exception was when I designed the Mosque of the Dome, where I only used matchsticks and colored plastic to mimic the look of glass and color. I don’t use paints because they conceal the nature of the material I work with. While there are many challenges, practice has helped me find solutions.”

 

Dr. Ahmed has participated in several art exhibitions, balancing his work as a doctor with his artistic pursuits. He expressed his dream, saying, “I’ve always been able to balance my career as a doctor with my hobby, which I practice in my free time. My dream is to open a permanent exhibition to showcase my artistic creations so that people can enjoy them, but this requires financial support.”