Qatari visual artist holds 'Hareem Al Awal' exhibition at Katara

Qatari visual artist Noura al-Mazrouei has spoken at length about the motivation and drive behind a group of new artworks that she recently unveiled in her exhibition “Hareem Al Awal”, which has opened in Katara – the Cultural Village.

The artworks have been widely acclaimed by the visual arts audience.

Al-Mazrouei told the Arabic daily *Arrayah that her passion for art stems from her keenness to document the stories and traditions that form the Qatari cultural identity and enhance the community’s understanding of its roots and authenticity.

She also expressed her appreciation for the support she receives from cultural institutions in Qatar, in particular the Fine Arts Society and Katara.

Al-Mazrouei explained that she uses an abstract style in her creations that allows her to convey her feelings and thoughts in a way that touches on the depth of Qatari heritage, helping her in her latest exhibition to shed light on the role of Qatari women in society.

She stressed that her works on display in the exhibition rely on drawing faces without clear features, allowing viewers to interpret the painting based according personal experience and imagination.

The exhibition documents the stories and traditions of the past that shaped the Qatari cultural identity.

"For years, I have felt an urgent desire to document our rich heritage in an artistic way,” she said. “I believe that this art contributes to enhancing understanding and respect for our ancient history, and reflects the cohesion and strength of Qatari society.”

“The paintings here are not just pictures, they are platforms that carry stories from a bygone era,” al-Mazrouei added. “When I started drawing on this idea, I wanted to honour the role of Qatari women, who have always been a symbol of dedication."

The idea revolved around highlighting the true image of Qatari women in the past, whether through traditional clothing or the jewellery they used to adorn themselves with.

Each painting has a special story, expressing a tale or situation that women experienced in the past, and each one carries a message about family cohesion and the role of the mother, and even traditional jewellery that was a symbol of a simple life.

"In my works I used acrylics to give the paintings a special strength and expression,” al-Mazrouei said. “It took me about two years to prepare the current works, and when I received an invitation to participate in the Diplomatic Day, I felt a strong desire to display these works under the name ‘Hareem Al Awal’.”

"I feel very grateful for Katara’s support,” she continued. “This exhibition is an important step for me, and I look forward to continuing in this field and conveying more stories of our society through art."

The exhibition includes 21 diverse paintings.

Al-Mazrouei has said that her goal through these works is to present a complete story about “Hareem Al Awal” so that the viewer can have a sense of the depth of Qatari women’s heritage and learn about the authenticity and values that they represent.