Artworks created by Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar) alumni from the departments of Graphic Design and Painting + Printmaking (PAPR) will be part of an auction titled ‘JEDEED: Contemporary Art from Doha Auction’, to be held at AlBahie Auction House tomorrow.
The auction is scheduled to begin at 7.30pm in Building 22c at Katara - the Cultural Village. The options for bidding include in-person, by telephone, online, through an agent or in writing.
Artworks by VCUarts Qatar alumni Zainab al-Shibani, Al Maha al-Madeed, Bouthayna al-Muftah, Ayaz Abdurauf, Reham Mohamed, Shima Aeinehdar, Eman Makki, Hessa al-Sulaiti, Nour Elbasuni, Sara al-Afifi, Fatima Mohamed and Sara Elawad are among those to go under the hammer.
“JEDEED in Arabic means new, but in this context, it also means breaking barriers and proudly fostering new home-grown practices and contributing to the development of a creative economy. In many ways, it is the embodiment of what we aspire to move towards by featuring works that carry the same message,” Habeeb al-Futtaim, Modern and Contemporary Art specialist at AlBahie Auction House, and a VCUarts Qatar PAPR alumnus himself, said, as he explained the details of the exhibition.
The artworks include a variety of media from painting to traditional, and new print media created by a diverse group of artists from Qatar, Kuwait, Yemen, Sudan, Egypt, Pakistan, Iran, the UK and UAE. The creations of VCUarts Qatar’s alumni will be up for auction alongside those of distinguished artists such as the late Alaa al-Siddiq, a renowned Emirati human rights activist, thinker, poet and artist.
Abdurauf, a VCUarts Qatar PAPR Class of 2016 alumnus, sees the auction as an “exciting opportunity”. His artwork to be auctioned include a select body of work investigating geometric and architectural elements of Islamic design to evolve and reformulate their sacred rules.
“It’s wonderful to be a part of AlBahie's shift towards becoming a relevant and distinguished space for all agents of the art community,” Abdurauf said. “Habeeb has always been incredibly supportive and generous to extend any positive opportunity to all keen artists.”
Al-Muftah echoed Abdurauf. “It’s exciting to be part of a new wave of artists, and a future generation of Middle Eastern artists. JEDEED has brought together several creatives, my fellow alumni, within the field with their innovative new auction category, and their aspiration to leave behind a legacy for Qatar,” the VCUarts Qatar Class of 2010 Graphic Design alumna said.
Another PAPR alumna, Elbasuni, VCUarts Qatar Class of 2018, sees the auction as contributing to the art and design landscape in Qatar. “I believe the auction will have a great impact on the growing contemporary art scene in Qatar. And the fact that it is being organised by a fellow artist and VCUarts Qatar alumnus makes it that much more special. The preparations and presentation of the artworks have been done in a thoughtful manner, and that will no doubt make the event an unforgettable experience for all those who attend it.”
 
 
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