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Ailyn Agonia
DOHA
Artworks reflecting the changing surroundings, extraordinary experiences and realisations during the lockdowns and uncertainties brought by the COVID-19 pandemic are presented in the exhibition titled ‘Grey Times’, which had a VIP opening at the Doha Fire Station on Tuesday.
The art event, which will be open for public viewing from January 20 to July 24, marks the end of the 5th edition of the Artist in Residence (AIR) Programme, an initiative of Qatar Museums (QM) that nurtures emerging talent based in Qatar and provides the perfect springboard for creativity, helping people to take their passion to the next level.
The collection showcases oil paintings, photographs, installations, sculptures and other creative platforms categorised into two sections: ‘A Look Outside’ and ‘A Look Inside’.
The exhibit is curated by Dr Bahaa Abudaya together with Saida Al Khulaifi as associate curator.
In a statement, Dr Abudaya reiterated the challenges faced by the artists in finalising their projects due to the restrictions in place in the form of health and safety precautions. He said that as the artists lost access to studios at the Fire Station as well as to workshops that come with the programme, they moved their creative spaces into their homes leaving themselves with extremely limited resources.
“Amid an unstable creative backdrop with an unpredictable future, a grey state swings between clarity and obscurity. Previous certainties are no longer quite so secure. In their projects, resident artists questioned “the self” by re-examining their identity, their memories and their childhood or took stock of “the other” by observing the surrounding community while in a reclusive state. These two approaches resulted in projects, including oil paintings, drawings, sculptures, installations, video and photographic works, that vigorously reflect the concept of creativity in times of isolation. They showcase our participating artists’ ability to adapt to exceptional life changes. The Grey Times exhibition sheds light on the meaning of working on an obscure and unstable ground, one where certainties are lost and the future is unpredictable,” Dr Abudaya pointed out.
Among the works on display are the paintings of Muna Al Bader done in her signature blue shades that powerfully depict strong emotions and life realities with every stroke on her canvas mimicking movements.
Amena Al Yousef, an interdisciplinary artist, presents a mixed media titled ‘What Remains’ which explored natural pigments from organic sources like desert rocks, plant roots and fruit skins.
Naila Al Thani, a designer and researcher, showcases a series of sculptural formations composed of local materials and natural ingredients formed using moulds layered with sand collected from different locations across Qatar.
Mashael Al Hejazi, a photographer, presents a documentation of elaborate wooden entrances in the traditional Musheireb neighbourhood using cyanotype, one of the oldest photographic printing methods.
Other participating artists are Majdulin Nasrallah, Hind Al Saad, Mariam Rafehi, Noor Yousef, Jaser Alagha, Latifa Al Kuwari, Maysaa Almumin, Hadeer Omar, Suzana Joumaa, Aisha Al Muhannadi, Ebtesam Al Hothi, Ameera Al Aji and Haytham Sharrouf.
DOHA
Artworks reflecting the changing surroundings, extraordinary experiences and realisations during the lockdowns and uncertainties brought by the COVID-19 pandemic are presented in the exhibition titled ‘Grey Times’, which had a VIP opening at the Doha Fire Station on Tuesday.
The art event, which will be open for public viewing from January 20 to July 24, marks the end of the 5th edition of the Artist in Residence (AIR) Programme, an initiative of Qatar Museums (QM) that nurtures emerging talent based in Qatar and provides the perfect springboard for creativity, helping people to take their passion to the next level.
The collection showcases oil paintings, photographs, installations, sculptures and other creative platforms categorised into two sections: ‘A Look Outside’ and ‘A Look Inside’.
The exhibit is curated by Dr Bahaa Abudaya together with Saida Al Khulaifi as associate curator.
In a statement, Dr Abudaya reiterated the challenges faced by the artists in finalising their projects due to the restrictions in place in the form of health and safety precautions. He said that as the artists lost access to studios at the Fire Station as well as to workshops that come with the programme, they moved their creative spaces into their homes leaving themselves with extremely limited resources.
“Amid an unstable creative backdrop with an unpredictable future, a grey state swings between clarity and obscurity. Previous certainties are no longer quite so secure. In their projects, resident artists questioned “the self” by re-examining their identity, their memories and their childhood or took stock of “the other” by observing the surrounding community while in a reclusive state. These two approaches resulted in projects, including oil paintings, drawings, sculptures, installations, video and photographic works, that vigorously reflect the concept of creativity in times of isolation. They showcase our participating artists’ ability to adapt to exceptional life changes. The Grey Times exhibition sheds light on the meaning of working on an obscure and unstable ground, one where certainties are lost and the future is unpredictable,” Dr Abudaya pointed out.
Among the works on display are the paintings of Muna Al Bader done in her signature blue shades that powerfully depict strong emotions and life realities with every stroke on her canvas mimicking movements.
Amena Al Yousef, an interdisciplinary artist, presents a mixed media titled ‘What Remains’ which explored natural pigments from organic sources like desert rocks, plant roots and fruit skins.
Naila Al Thani, a designer and researcher, showcases a series of sculptural formations composed of local materials and natural ingredients formed using moulds layered with sand collected from different locations across Qatar.
Mashael Al Hejazi, a photographer, presents a documentation of elaborate wooden entrances in the traditional Musheireb neighbourhood using cyanotype, one of the oldest photographic printing methods.
Other participating artists are Majdulin Nasrallah, Hind Al Saad, Mariam Rafehi, Noor Yousef, Jaser Alagha, Latifa Al Kuwari, Maysaa Almumin, Hadeer Omar, Suzana Joumaa, Aisha Al Muhannadi, Ebtesam Al Hothi, Ameera Al Aji and Haytham Sharrouf.
