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The Start at the Fire Station

Returning from her three-month residency at the prestigious International Studio & Curatorial Program (ISCP) in New York, Fatima Mohammed presented an exhibition titled Fatima Mohammed: The Start at the Fire Station. The exhibition is open to the public from the May 2 to May 22.

Artist exhibits 'The Start' of Qatar's journey to modernism

Artist exhibits ‘The Start’ of Qatar’s journey to modernism

The Start presents an overview of Fatima Mohammed’s work during her residency at ISCP, New York from early 2019. The exhibition showcases the beginning of the development of the petroleum and natural gas industry in Qatar and how it helped the country grow and modernise. Qatar’s journey is portrayed here through the eyes of Fatima Mohammed’s fictional character, 3naj (Anaj). 3naj is the product of both East and West. She is part Arab and part American bald eagle and symbolises a strong independent female character who displays her heritage proudly by wearing the batoola (face cover) as a protective golden beak. The 3naj looks on as the country seems to proper and grow from the oil and gas development.

Art exhibition on Qatar’s journey to modernism

Art exhibition on Qatar’s journey to modernism

Commenting on the exhibition, Khalifa Al Obaidly – Director at the Fire Station stated: “From her time with us at the Artist in Residence programme in Doha to this exhibition following her stay in New York – it’s been a pleasure watching Fatima grow and develop as an artist. It’s also been a pleasure watching how her character, 3naj, continues to express the artist’s thoughts and feelings about Qatar, her identity and the relationship between the two.”

Art exhibition on Qatar’s journey

Art exhibition on Qatar’s journey

Fatima Mohammed works in mixed media, installations and printmaking. She graduated from VCUarts Qatar, with a major in Painting and Printmaking as well as a minor in Art History. She has exhibited her works at Al Markhiya Gallery, Fire Station and Msheireb Museums, among others. She was also a part of the Dual Inspirations exhibition, which was held last year to mark the end of the 2017-2018 Artist in Residence programme.

Created under the patronage of Qatar Museums (QM) Chairperson, HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the New York Residency is an extension of QM’s Fire Station: Artist in Residence programme in Doha. Much like its Paris counterpart, the programme aims to nurture a new generation of creators and help Qatar originate sources for art and creativity from within. For a period of three months, the participating Qatari artists are fully immersed in the New York art scene – attending lectures, working alongside artists from all around the world and further honing their skills.

Pictures courtesy: Qatar Museums