It is said that contemporary art mirrors the current milieu of a society, and that in times of crisis art acts as an initial step to recognize injustice and affect change through creative artistic dialogue. This holds true in the present situation in Qatar.
If there is one sector that has benefited much from the unjust blockade imposed by three of Qatar’s neigbouring countries, it is the contemporary art scene in the country which has become more vibrant than ever.
Like a grain of sand that irritates the oyster to form a beautiful pearl, the blockade has inspired many artists to produce some of the most stunning art pieces that never fail to provoke both emotion and reason among viewers.
It all started with Ahmed bin Majed Al Maadheed’s ‘Tamim Al Majd’ (Tamim is Glory) whose popularity swept across all media, whose presence is felt from online platforms to the streets of Doha to homes. The Qatari artist’s black-and-white portrait of H H the Emir sparked love and loyalty to the country and its leadership and unified the entire nation during a significant period in Qatar’s recent history.
The LeBlockade exhibition which concluded recently at Katara tersely tells to what extent the present political crisis has encouraged creativity among the citizens and residents alike. Hundreds of people visited the exhibition, which served as one of the features of the recently concluded fifth Ajyal Youth Film Festival presented by Doha Film Institute. It showcased 38 artworks and 17 short films, representing only a small fraction of the massive body of works produced five months since the blockade began.
The multimedia exhibition, effectively highlighted a range of issues surrounding the blockade, from fake news to people’s resilience and how life has been normal despite the siege.
Conspicuously adorning the exterior walls of the Doha Fire Station are murals created by local and expatriate artists to mark 100 days of the blockade and show how Qatar has emerged victorious amid the siege.
The theme of the blockade was also very much evident in the artworks inspired by the National Day celebration. For the first time, Al Maadheed unveiled his most recent works at a solo exhibition in Katara, some of which, he said, are an expression of pride to the country amid the blockade.
Upon his return from his three-month residency in Cité internationale des arts in Paris, Qatari artist Khalifa Al Obaidli created paintings which pay homage to Qatar and give thanks to countries which have supported Qatar during the blockade. The paintings are some of the highlights of his exhibition currently on show at Doha Fire Station.
The massive number of art pieces produced during this period demonstrates how adversity can spark creativity and unity among artists from all backgrounds to counter injustice using art as a powerful weapon.
