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FEATHER AND MANE

R E V U EA RT

Laura Hamilton discovers the natural talents of Doha-based photographers, Aurélie Korady and Marie-Josée Bédard

Four pearls

At the tail end of last year, there was a short exhibition at the Grand Hyatt called Feather and Mane. You will be forgiven if you missed it, but it is not excusable to live in ignorance of the two artists behind the show, Aurélie Korady and Marie-Josée Bédard, two French professional photographers living in Doha.

After an auspicious but coincidental meeting - their children are in the same class at school - Aurélie and Marie-Josée found that their different

approaches to photography complemented each other, and thus, a partnership was born. They find that as expatriates and photographers, they can cast a fresh eye on their surroundings.

Feather and Mane focuses on two symbols of Arabian culture: the horse and the falcon. After moving to Doha, the two became enamoured of the most romantic elements of traditional Qatari life. Aurélie is not actively involved in falconry, although it’s something that is easily

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Aurélie Korady .

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appreciated from afar, and a trip to the falcon souq/hospital would certainly pique anyone’s interest. Her photographs of falconry in Qatar show a strong connection between the bird of prey and its owner, juxtaposed against a lonely background of endless sand. The muted colours - black and white is her preferred medium - further illustrate the contrasts; the results are beautiful and striking. Marie-Josée, a horsewoman herself, offers a peek into aspects of culture that the ordinary viewer might have missed. She manages to both anthromorphise the equine beauties and catch their graceful movement on fi lm, which is no mean feat.

The two charming French women also teach workshops. Photography has quickly become very popular in Qatar, perhaps because it is something that anyone with a camera can

participate in, but as Aurélie and Marie-Josée explain, practice makes perfect. “It’s such a joy to teach high school students, they’re so enthusiastic!” praises Marie-Josée. “They’re very good at the technical side of things,” says Aurélie.

“People always say, ‘Where did you see that?’ when they see our photographs,” says Aurélie. “It’s because photographers have to look at things harder to fi nd the shot. We take our time...and look a little closer,” explains Marie-Josée.

For more information, visit www.aureliekorady-photo.com and www.marie-joseebedard.com

Marie-Josée Bédard . .

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