Qatar Museums recently inaugurated two art exhibitions at the Fire Station -- Artist in Residence. The first exhibition, entitled 'Espresso 4 the Road' is by artist Mubarak bin Nasser al-Thani, and the second one is by artist Yousef Bahzad, titled 'Earth Metal'. 'Espresso 4 the Road' includes 53 paintings, in which the artist utilises the method of abstraction and cubism schools, and draws his themes from architecture, nature, geography and the daily life of people in large cities, and makes tales of the rhythm of things in the painting such as trees, buildings and animals.
"I chose the name 'Espresso' as a symbol of energy and the positive dimensions of colours, because the exhibition is like a road trip in which a person contemplates things around it. My sources of inspiration lie in geography, nature, architecture, and history," Mubarak al-Thani said in an exclusive statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA) about the significance of the name of the exhibition, and the topics that represent the sources of his inspiration for him in his artworks.
"I worked on the employment of symbols, objects and details related to the environment and Qatari nature, the peculiarity of its architecture, dunes, sun and plants, and the symbolism of tea and coffee in Qatari society. In my work, there is a mixture of these local and foreign symbols," he added.
The exhibition titled 'Earth Metal' includes 11 paintings, in which the artist is inspired by people's relationship with the land and their interaction with it, and the natural elements that influence its formation, such as minerals. Regarding the messages he sends through his works and his method of addressing ideas and the recipient's view of his works between optimism and pessimism, Bahzad told QNA that his inspiration is linked to the land and the mutual transformations between land and man, and it is possible to change the land and reshape it, exchange the same effect and restore it."
"When I look at the transformations that have occurred and are taking place in Doha, my city and the cradle of my childhood, I want to discover them and know the impact of these changes and their dimensions, at the level of the city that has become a global city, and at the level of the people who come and leave." He elaborated,
"As for the recipients' view of my work with an eye of optimism and pessimism, the scene in the painting may seem frightening at first sight and incites fear, but by looking at the work and getting closer to it, the recipient may discover other dimensions. Like features of a family photo or a scene of a human birth. In any case, I leave it to the recipient to interpret the artwork." He said. The exhibitions will continue at the artists headquarters Fire Station until June 16.
"I worked on the employment of symbols, objects and details related to the environment and Qatari nature, the peculiarity of its architecture, dunes, sun and plants, and the symbolism of tea and coffee in Qatari society. In my work, there is a mixture of these local and foreign symbols," he added.
The exhibition titled 'Earth Metal' includes 11 paintings, in which the artist is inspired by people's relationship with the land and their interaction with it, and the natural elements that influence its formation, such as minerals. Regarding the messages he sends through his works and his method of addressing ideas and the recipient's view of his works between optimism and pessimism, Bahzad told QNA that his inspiration is linked to the land and the mutual transformations between land and man, and it is possible to change the land and reshape it, exchange the same effect and restore it."
"When I look at the transformations that have occurred and are taking place in Doha, my city and the cradle of my childhood, I want to discover them and know the impact of these changes and their dimensions, at the level of the city that has become a global city, and at the level of the people who come and leave." He elaborated,
"As for the recipients' view of my work with an eye of optimism and pessimism, the scene in the painting may seem frightening at first sight and incites fear, but by looking at the work and getting closer to it, the recipient may discover other dimensions. Like features of a family photo or a scene of a human birth. In any case, I leave it to the recipient to interpret the artwork." He said. The exhibitions will continue at the artists headquarters Fire Station until June 16.
