The vibrancy of Doha’s art scene is very much evident despite COVID-19 as galleries put up virtual exhibitions featuring Qatari and Arab artists, most recent of which is Al Markhiya Gallery.
Al Markhiya Gallery, Doha’s oldest privately owned art gallery, has announced via social media that it would launch an online edition of its signature 50 x 50 exhibition.
This is the first virtual exhibition for the biannual show which marks its seventh edition. The exhibition will be accessible on the gallery’s official website, it said.
The virtual group exhibition features works by 14 artists including Ahmed Al Haddad, Ahmed Sultan, Aisha Al-Sowaidi, Ali Al-Naama, Hadeer Omar, Khalifa Al Marri, Lina Al-Aali, Manar Al Muftah, Maryam Al Mousa, Moza Al Kuwari, Mubarak Al Malik, Noor Qussini, Wurood Azzam and Zeina Abbara.
Launched in June 2017, Al Markhiya Gallery’s ‘50x50’ series has been providing an effective platform for artists here to reach out to more audiences by producing artworks in various mediums and diverse themes on 50cm by 50cm size canvases making it possible for art collectors to acquire original artworks by established artists at affordable cost.
Al Markhiya Gallery is also currently running another online exhibition on its Artsy page called “Reformat” featuring Reformat works by Hamza Bounoua, “an Algerian visual artist whose multi-disciplinary practice negotiates between his Islamic, Arabic heritage and contemporary aesthetics of representation.”
It follows the success of Qatari artist Mubarak Al Thani’s “Social Distancing” and Palestinian artist Hayyan Monawar’s “Heroes of the Experiment,” both on Artsy.
A pioneering private art gallery in Doha, Al Markhiya Gallery continues its mission promoting, exhibiting and selling Qatari and Arab contemporary art.
It is known for its flagship event ’40 Minus’ which is an annual exhibition that seeks to promote emerging artists under the age of 40.
Prior to the pandemic, Al Markhiya Gallery has regularly presented exhibitions in both of its galleries located in Katara Art Centre and Doha Fire Station.
Meanwhile, the Cultural Village Foundation - Katara is presently running three virtual exhibitions on its website namely “Culture Collision” by Hassan Taleb Alsalat, “The Result” by Fatima Al Nuaimi, and “Al Taybeen” by Ali Dasmal Al Kuwari.
The National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ) also recently announced that it would soon launch four virtual exhibitions in various themes including NMoQ Creates Together, Habitats and Shelter, Qatar’s Culinary Journey, and Mal Lawal.
The NMoQ, the Musuem of Islamic Art, Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, Fire Station Artist in Residence, 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, and Qatar Children’s Museums also actively engage the public through their own online initiatives in the form of unique and engaging activities catered to various ages and interests.
