Freej Art and Design festival draws crowds

The Freej Art and Design Festival continued its activities for the sixth consecutive day in its first edition, which is organised by the Ministry of Culture at the permanent headquarters of Darb Al Saai in Umm Salal, as part of the cultural season activities celebrating the artistic scene in Qatar.

The day’s events witnessed a large public turnout, as Qatari and resident families flocked to enjoy the various cultural, artistic events and workshops offered by the festival for different ages. The events aim to enhance the spirit of creativity, expression among the younger generation, and to celebrate the achievements of Qatari artists and their contribution to developing the Qatari cultural scene.

The sixth day of the festival also witnessed a cultural seminar titled ‘Art between Listening and Creativity,’ presented by the Syrian visual artist Ismail al-Rifai. It revolved around the concept of listening and creativity within the framework of the nature of art as a reflection of the artist’s inner experience and an expression of his aesthetic aspirations in its relationship with the outside world.

Al-Rifai said that art is a universal language that transcends linguistic and cultural barriers, and carries deep and complex messages. He pointed out that art is an interactive process between listening and creativity, where the artist listens to his inner world, then reformulates it in his own way, to present us with a unique work of art.

He explained that the artist begins an internal exploratory journey into the depths of the self, listening to his voice, thoughts and feelings, to extract from them the materials with which he will build his artwork. He indicated that listening is not just hearing internal voices, but rather a deep dive into the subconscious, memories and dreams, which contribute to shaping his artistic vision and enriching his imagination.

Ismail al-Rifai talked about his book ‘Milestones,’ which reflects his feelings, emotions and everything he experienced in his life, quoting one of the texts in the book: “All that is there is that I surrendered myself to myself, that I let the spirit do what it wants and closed my heart to its transparent light.”

The Iraqi plastic artist Sabah al-Arbili said Arabic calligraphy is an authentic art that is distinguished by its beauty and diversity and is considered an ancient heritage and a symbol of the Arab identity. He also pointed out the importance of presenting it to the public in a distinctive way as it is an integral part of the Arab cultural heritage.

He added that he uses Arabic letters several times in his artworks through sculptures and legible paintings known as classical arts, and illegible ones, which is called contemporary art of Arabic calligraphy, and explained that the art of calligraphy is inspired by a text that is expressed in an attractive way.
The Freej Art and Design Festival includes a pavilion that displays the ‘Arabic Calligraphy’ with a section for a group of Qatari calligraphers to highlight the beauty of Arabic calligraphy through works, engravings and paintings.

In turn, British artist Richard Walker expressed his happiness to participate in the activities of the Art and Design Festival to teach festival-goers the art of gilding, saying: “It is an honour for me to come to Qatar, the home of science and art, and to participate with many different cultures and exchange ideas on a wonderful journey of exploration.”

Walker explained that the art of gilding has been around for 4,000 years, noting that the gilding workshop contains important knowledge as it explains all types and forms of gilding and the method of shaping it according to the use of each region and country, which also enhances the skills and knowledge of the workshop’s visitors about the art of gilding.

The Freej Art and Design Festival, represents a platform that celebrates art and creativity, with the participation of 19 different entities, bringing together more than 100 local, international artists and designers, with a great diversity in their artistic orientations, and which enriches the artistic and cultural scene in Qatar.