Qatari artist Masoud Al Bulushi with some of his paintings at the opening of his solo exhibition titled ‘Unreachable Mirage’ at Art 29 at W Doha Hotel on Saturday. Qassim Rahmatullah/The Peninsula
Pioneering Qatari artist Masoud Rashid Al Bulushi showcases his signature style in 24 paintings on show at the “Unreachable Mirage” exhibition which opened on Saturday at W Doha’s Art 29.
Using oil and acrylic on canvas, Bulushi combines realism and abstraction in depicting portraits of women — one wearing veil and batoola, the other devoid of face covering — arousing interest and sparking conversation among visitors.
Speaking to The Peninsula, the artist said the portraits represent self-dialogue in which a person prefers to keep his thoughts to himself while there are times when he chooses to express his opinion to the public.
The duality of the portraits also arouses curiosity in the beholder and prompts him to ask questions, thus continuing the dialogue, he added.
An award-winning artist, Bulushi has always had a fascination with the face covering of Arab women, a subject which he has explored in his paintings in the past decades.
Blending traditional and contemporary elements, the paintings present a unique style which a big number of artists and enthusiasts who attended the launch enjoyed.
“'Unreachable Mirage' truly reflects the concept of art as an international language, bringing people together and overcoming differences. Exhibiting at Art 29 is not just about showcasing my work but has also enabled me to share my thoughts, passions and perceptions of the world. I am really looking forward to taking art lovers through a journey that will bring together the community for the sake of art,” he said.
General Manager of W Doha, Wassim Daaje said, “At W Doha, we are committed to supporting and promoting Qatar’s evolving and dynamic art scene by shedding light on the success of talented home-grown artists.
Visitors to ‘Unreachable Mirage’ at Art 29 will captivate the local community as Masoud’s work is a testament of his boundless passion and artistic instincts. I couldn’t be happier to host such talent at W Doha.”
A member of the Qatar Fine Arts Society and the Souq Waqif Art Center, Bulushi has exhibited both locally and internationally receiving a string of awards for his exceptional work including the Grand prize at the Youth Exhibition by Qatar Fine Arts Association in 2003 and the Second International Mini Art Exhibition for visual arts by the Ministry of Culture and Sports in Qatar in 2015.
His works had been displayed in Paris, London, Morocco and Cuba and his solo exhibitions included ‘Behind the Dark’ at Souq Waqif in 2011 and ‘Al That’ at Katara in 2013.
“Unreachable Mirage” is open for public viewing at Art 29 from 10am to 10pm until March 8.
