A 1995 painting by acclaimed Iraqi artist Dia Azzawi titled Majnoun Layla (Temptation) inspired by the timeless tale of star-crossed lovers.
DOHA: Qatar Museums (QM) displays its continued commitment to celebrating the works of Arab artists in two exhibitions which will launch this month as part of its autumn programme.
The rich oeuvre of acclaimed Iraqi artist Dia Al-Azzawi and contemporary Iraqi-Canadian artist Manhmoud Obaidi will be featured in the exhibitions which are the highlight of the fresh QM programme.
Khalid Al Ibrahim, Chief Strategic Planning Officer at Qatar Museums said QM “will continue to celebrate the influence and impact of Arab artists more generally in addition to championing established, home-grown artists.”
Said to be the largest solo exhibition by an Arab artist, “I am the cry, who will give voice to me? Dia Al-Azzawi: A Retrospective (from 1963 until tomorrow)” will run for six months in two venues namely Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art and the QM Gallery Al Riwaq . It will showcase 546 of Azzawi’s works in a variety of media spanning 50 years of his career.
Aimed at mapping an itinerary of modernism and profiles the practice of the Iraqi artist, the exhibition is scheduled to open on October 16 at Mathaf and October 17 at Al Riwaq.
Following Azzawi’s exhibition launch will be the opening of Obaidi’s ‘Fragments’ on October 18 at QM Gallery in Katara.
This will be Obaidi’s first solo show at Katara and includes a newly commissioned full-scale installation, which according to assistant curator Maryam Al Thani “marks a culmination of years of investigation into the outcomes of exile and the destruction of one’s home.”
“In his work Obaidi recreates what has been stolen or destroyed to try to piece the city back together again. The exhibition shows how Obaidi is grappling with the destruction of a 7000-year-old civilisation, which has been laid waste in less than a fraction of that time,” said Al Thani.
The programme also includes a photography exhibition and a festival In line with the Qatar China 2016 year of Culture.
The photo exhibition will be inaugurated next month featuring the works of four Chinese and two Qatari photographers during a cultural exchange project.
The Chinese Festival to be held from November 2 to 5 at the MIA Park will include performances, a Chinese market, Chinese tea house, stage, photography exhibition space, food stalls and a children’s area.
Speaking at a recent media event, Al Ibrahim stressed QM’s support in the growth of Qatar’s cultural sector with “art, heritage and creativity” as major focused areas.
“Under the visionary guidance of Qatar Museums’ Chairperson, Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, we continue to make considerable progress in connecting the nation’s cultural institutions and heritage sites and creating the conditions for them to flourish,” he said.
