An exhibition highlighting the works of Iraqi artist Ahmad Alaway was opened recently at Katara – the Cultural Village.
Katara general manager Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti inaugurated the exhibition at an event attended by artists and other guests. The exhibition, titled Dancing Bodies and Letters, has been organised by Qatar Fine Arts Society in building 13, Katara.
The exhibition showcases an assortment of artistic works in the fields of engraving, drawing and pottery. On the occasion, Dr al-Sulaiti paid tribute to the concept of the exhibition and the notion put forth by the artist, incorporating different art genres.
“We, at the Cultural Village Foundation, are trying to contribute to creativity. We are also pleased to host different artists to show their creative works. Similarly, we tend to support different stakeholders at the Cultural Village Foundation as we do with Qatar Fine Arts Society, which continuously work to open new doors for creative and distinguished opportunities. This will, in turn, enrich the local artistic and cultural movement,” Dr al-Sulaiti stressed.
Yousef Khalifa As-Sadah, director of Qatar Fine Arts Society, said: “The exhibition is an attempt to merge the technical differences that tell artistic practices apart. This can be done by the various raw materials and techniques used in employing the letters as a constituent of the shape and the body.”
Alaway reflected on his work, saying: “I have used the body and other materials as papers on which I draw my ideas; they are my letters and dancing bodies. I have tried to present a specific notion through using different materials. I focus on the flexible structure of the body and the Arabic letter.”
Alaway thanked Katara and Qatar Fine Arts Society for hosting his works. Among the works displayed is the 4m-high “Leaves to the Sky”. It is a collection of engraved Arab letters in stainless steel with tree leaves pointed upward.