8/2/2019 04.02.12 Manal Al Dowayan _ENG (1)
1/3
Manal Al Dowayan to Exhibit exclusive Artworks
at Katara Gallery
Acclaimed Saudi artist exhibits her collection for the launch of
Katara
Gallery
Doha, February 4th
, 2012: The Katara Gallery today announced that acclaimed Saudi
artist,
Manal Al Dowayan, would exhibit her collection of works at
Katara Gallery. From the 9th
of
February until the 9th March at Katara Gallery, Building 19,
Katara, the exhibition will
showcase artworks including photographs and mixed media, large
scale installations.
The exhibition will launch the opening of the long-awaited
Katara Gallery and will feature
pieces of artwork reflecting the Saudi womans identity. The
powerful I am series is inspired
by a speech given by King Abdullah Al Saud, in which he called
on Saudis to build their
nation together, highlighting the importance of womens
participation. The series depicts
Saudi women in various occupations across the Kingdom, pieces
include, I Am a Doctor, I
Am a Petroleum Engineer, I Am a Mother, and I Am a UN
Officer.
Commenting on the exhibition, Sidonio Costa Artistic, Director
and Head Curator of Katara
Art Center said: We are honoured to host this exhibition; Manal
Al Dowayan is an inspiration
to all local artists. Through her work she addresses the
minority of women in the local art
scene and reflects an important message through her
groundbreaking work. This exhibition
is an example of Kataras mission to cultivate an artistic
community whilst building cultural
bridges.
Through her artwork Al Dowayan also examines her environment in
Saudi Arabia.
Landscapes of the Minddepicts the artists surroundings in the
Eastern Province of Saudi
Arabia. Pieces illustrate the bleak landscapes, dotted with
barbed wire and oil tanks, with
women fully covered in shapeless black garb. These images
reflect those used in Saudi
television broadcasts and referred to by Saudi women as the
black ghosts.
8/2/2019 04.02.12 Manal Al Dowayan _ENG (1)
2/3
Other collections featured at the exhibition will include, And
We Had No Shared Dreams
which represents an imagined conversation between the city and
its inhabitants and Esmi
(my name), Dowayans most recent work, a three-meter-high prayer
bead which drawsupon the Saudi taboo of men not uttering a womans
name. For the project, the artist called
upon Saudi women to inscribe their names on the beads.
Katara Gallery has organized a series of workshops, hosted by
the artist on the 10 th
February. Art enthusiasts are invited to join the walk through
at 2pm and 5pm, for more
information please email: [email protected].
- Ends -
About Katara The Cultural Village
Situated on the eastern coast of Doha, Katara The Cultural
Village is an integrated cultural
landmark which possesses the character of a historic and
inspirational breeding ground for
arts and culture in Qatar.
The village is built on 1,000,000 square meters, its
interconnecting pathways and creatively
placed buildings constructed to resemble Al Fareej, an ancient
Qatari alley.
Attractions offered by Katara The Cultural Village include an
open amphitheatre, an opera
house, a cinema which can double as a drama theatre, a
multi-purpose hall, handicrafts
souq, book stall, and beach, in addition to a rich variety of
international cuisine.
Several locally based NGOs, including Algannas Society,
Childhood Cultural Center, Qatar
Fine Arts Society, Qatar Photographic Society, Qatar Society for
Engineers, and Visual Art
Center, currently operate in Katara The Cultural Village.
By hosting entertaining and informative festivals, exhibitions,
forums, and other cultural
events, Katara The Cultural Village accentuates Dohas globally
recognized position as the
capital of Arab culture.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Hanadi AlJasim
