Art is an expression often used to share cultural and personal experiences. It is an expression that has universal appeal, particularly in the modern day connectivity and interactions among diverse peoples.
Art and cultural exchanges have fast become an international norm to bring nations closer by understanding and appreciating each other’s cultures. Qatar has made it a regular practice to organise year-long art and cultural activities in collaboration with a select country every year.
The Year of Culture Qatar – USA 2021 contains various events celebrating relations between the two countries through cultural partnerships between American and Qatari organisations. These events and experiences range from large-scale eye-catching moments to educationally focused talks to cultural support of like-minded organisations throughout the year.
‘What If’ is an exhibition showcasing inspiring and diverse art pieces created by 18 Qatari and American artists. The show at W Doha’s Art 29 gallery will continue till February 28.
Curated by Qatari artist and art ambassador Muna al-Bader, the exhibition features unique artworks that reveal how the artists live and look at life during the coronavirus pandemic expressed in different media such as paintings, installations and mixed media.
The artists whose works are on display include: Ali Hassan, Muna al-Bader, Maryam al-Attiya, Ebtisam al-Saffar, Fatima al-Naimi, Eman al-Sulaiti, Shatha al-Shammary, Mohamed al-Suwaidi, Astrid Kensinger, Michael Hersrud, Michael Perrone, Elizabeth Marker, Abdulla al-Habsi, Gloria Garcia, Levi Hammett, Rab McClure, Ryan Browning, and Emma aI-Saleh.
Muna al-Bader, curator of the exhibition, thinks there are strong boundaries between the two cultures that need to be displayed through the art. “Through art we can deliver a positive message by means of different art pieces. The exhibition highlights how human beings have been trying to overcome the global pandemic.”
She added: “Each participating artist has gone through the situation (pandemic) and through art they are delivering a positive message to the world. Every visitor can see and appreciate the creative works even though they cannot understand the media and the language used by the artists.”
Muna is a firm believer in the idea of bringing people together through art and creativity. “Visual art is a spoken language. Artists represent different situations and experiences in a distinct way through their creativity. It is a way for cultural dialogue and exchange. At Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar, the faculty is from the US. The students have been getting education from professional teachers. Art has always been a way of communication among different cultures. We can know a lot about the American culture from the artworks displayed by the US artists.”
Eman al-Sulaiti is a Qatari portrait artist, who focuses on facial expressions and facial details, especially the eyes. She has been drawing for over 25 years. “There two works of mine at the exhibition. One is called ‘Gratitude’ – appreciation for the most vulnerable segments of the society. The other is ‘Hope’ showing the hope we have to overcome the pandemic. For me the solution is to use an old key that is going back to nature and traditional ways. I have used mixed media. One of the works is an oil painting and its background is acrylic. I am the artist by hobby. I am a business graduate.”
Eman sees the exhibition as an opportunity to have a conversation between the two cultures. “The year of culture programme is a great initiative by Qatar. It gives us opportunity to be open to other cultures and see what others have to offer.”
US artist and designer Astrid Kensinger is head of graphic design at VCUarts Qatar. Her work ‘Mapping Romance is from her 30-day artist residency in the south of France. “During the residency, I walked for 30 days. One can see the GPS of my walk and the woods also in the art work. There are also words of the history of the location. The reason I went to the location is that they say it is the place where the western romance was born. So I wanted to spend 30 days walking and mapping romance. The art piece contains GPS imagery and it is a mixed media work.”
For Astrid, it is very important that artists of diverse backgrounds come together. “We share common languages that are beyond words. Often, artists are the ones who see into the metaphysical or poetic side of life and offer hope and insight. They can speculate on the future. I think artists are important in giving new ways of thinking for the future, especially in times like now.”
Shatha al-Shammari is another Qatari artist participating in the exhibition. Engineer by profession, she dabbles in art as a hobby. “I have named my painting ‘Coloured Sorrow.’ The exhibition is about how people feel towards the coronavirus. People generally feel sad for losing near and dear ones and due to the other effects of the pandemic. We can overcome these feelings by bringing colour into our lives and painting sorrow and sadness with colours of happiness in order attract the joy and strength from within. My artwork sends the message of trying to be happy when you are sad.”
Shatha also likes the idea of cultural exchange with another country every year. “It gives us chance to learn and have an overview about other cultures. It is really a rich experience for an artist. When we see something beautiful, it is automatically reflected in our works without us knowing about it. Here, we see the US artists are more into geometrics and mechanical things. It gives you an insight how other cultures can influence the people.”
Photos by Thajudin
Art and cultural exchanges have fast become an international norm to bring nations closer by understanding and appreciating each other’s cultures. Qatar has made it a regular practice to organise year-long art and cultural activities in collaboration with a select country every year.
The Year of Culture Qatar – USA 2021 contains various events celebrating relations between the two countries through cultural partnerships between American and Qatari organisations. These events and experiences range from large-scale eye-catching moments to educationally focused talks to cultural support of like-minded organisations throughout the year.
‘What If’ is an exhibition showcasing inspiring and diverse art pieces created by 18 Qatari and American artists. The show at W Doha’s Art 29 gallery will continue till February 28.
Curated by Qatari artist and art ambassador Muna al-Bader, the exhibition features unique artworks that reveal how the artists live and look at life during the coronavirus pandemic expressed in different media such as paintings, installations and mixed media.
The artists whose works are on display include: Ali Hassan, Muna al-Bader, Maryam al-Attiya, Ebtisam al-Saffar, Fatima al-Naimi, Eman al-Sulaiti, Shatha al-Shammary, Mohamed al-Suwaidi, Astrid Kensinger, Michael Hersrud, Michael Perrone, Elizabeth Marker, Abdulla al-Habsi, Gloria Garcia, Levi Hammett, Rab McClure, Ryan Browning, and Emma aI-Saleh.
Muna al-Bader, curator of the exhibition, thinks there are strong boundaries between the two cultures that need to be displayed through the art. “Through art we can deliver a positive message by means of different art pieces. The exhibition highlights how human beings have been trying to overcome the global pandemic.”
She added: “Each participating artist has gone through the situation (pandemic) and through art they are delivering a positive message to the world. Every visitor can see and appreciate the creative works even though they cannot understand the media and the language used by the artists.”
Muna is a firm believer in the idea of bringing people together through art and creativity. “Visual art is a spoken language. Artists represent different situations and experiences in a distinct way through their creativity. It is a way for cultural dialogue and exchange. At Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar, the faculty is from the US. The students have been getting education from professional teachers. Art has always been a way of communication among different cultures. We can know a lot about the American culture from the artworks displayed by the US artists.”
Eman al-Sulaiti is a Qatari portrait artist, who focuses on facial expressions and facial details, especially the eyes. She has been drawing for over 25 years. “There two works of mine at the exhibition. One is called ‘Gratitude’ – appreciation for the most vulnerable segments of the society. The other is ‘Hope’ showing the hope we have to overcome the pandemic. For me the solution is to use an old key that is going back to nature and traditional ways. I have used mixed media. One of the works is an oil painting and its background is acrylic. I am the artist by hobby. I am a business graduate.”
Eman sees the exhibition as an opportunity to have a conversation between the two cultures. “The year of culture programme is a great initiative by Qatar. It gives us opportunity to be open to other cultures and see what others have to offer.”
US artist and designer Astrid Kensinger is head of graphic design at VCUarts Qatar. Her work ‘Mapping Romance is from her 30-day artist residency in the south of France. “During the residency, I walked for 30 days. One can see the GPS of my walk and the woods also in the art work. There are also words of the history of the location. The reason I went to the location is that they say it is the place where the western romance was born. So I wanted to spend 30 days walking and mapping romance. The art piece contains GPS imagery and it is a mixed media work.”
For Astrid, it is very important that artists of diverse backgrounds come together. “We share common languages that are beyond words. Often, artists are the ones who see into the metaphysical or poetic side of life and offer hope and insight. They can speculate on the future. I think artists are important in giving new ways of thinking for the future, especially in times like now.”
Shatha al-Shammari is another Qatari artist participating in the exhibition. Engineer by profession, she dabbles in art as a hobby. “I have named my painting ‘Coloured Sorrow.’ The exhibition is about how people feel towards the coronavirus. People generally feel sad for losing near and dear ones and due to the other effects of the pandemic. We can overcome these feelings by bringing colour into our lives and painting sorrow and sadness with colours of happiness in order attract the joy and strength from within. My artwork sends the message of trying to be happy when you are sad.”
Shatha also likes the idea of cultural exchange with another country every year. “It gives us chance to learn and have an overview about other cultures. It is really a rich experience for an artist. When we see something beautiful, it is automatically reflected in our works without us knowing about it. Here, we see the US artists are more into geometrics and mechanical things. It gives you an insight how other cultures can influence the people.”
Photos by Thajudin
