A charity auction and exhibition will be held this week to benefit the Rofaqa initiative, which provides care to orphans worldwide.
On the occasion of Ramadan and under the patronage of HE Sheikh Dr Hassan bin Mohamed bin Ali al-Thani, premium French furniture design brand Roche Bobois has teamed up with AlBahie Auction House and Qatar Charity (QC) for the charity auction and exhibition – “Qatari Art Meets the Mah Jong”.
As part of this, 12 Qatar-based artists have re-imagined one of the most iconic pieces of the French house, the Mah Jong sofa.
A special press preview was held recently followed by the VIP opening at AlBahie Auction House, located in Katara – the Cultural Village, building 22C.
The exhibition of the works is open to the public until the evening of June 6, while the auction event will take place at 9pm on June 7.
Inquiries of interest and placed bids can be made online or in person at the AlBahie location until the start of the auction.
“Following the success of similar events in Mexico, the US, the UK, Spain, Brussels, Kazakhstan and more recently Hong Kong and Beirut, Qatar has now put its own spin on the project,” a press statement said.
Roche Bobois has invited 12 Qatar-based artists to create artworks using the square cushioned components of Roche Bobois’ Mah Jong modular sofa system.
These artists – Ahmed al-Bahrani, Ahmed al-Musaifri, Amal al-Aathem, Hasa Kala, Ismail Azzam, Mohamed Abouelnaga, Monera al-Meer, Nadia al-Meer, Nour Abuissa, Sabah Arbilli, Salman al-Malik, and Yousef Ahmed – have “freely and totally re-imagined” the Mah Jong sofa.
“Twelve surprising works, each with their own character and personality, are all unique pieces that were born with a spirit of solidarity: that of raising funds for the Rofaqa initiative,” the statement notes.
The artists invited to reinterpret the Mah Jong were selected for the quality and ambition of their work and for their ability to respond to this project in the most exciting and creative way.
All funds raised will be used to support QC’s Rofaqa initiative, which aims to develop an advanced integrated care programme for orphans around the world, including social, educational, health and psychological care of orphans worldwide.
Designed by Hans Hopfer in 1971, the Mah Jong has become the most recognised of Roche Bobois’ innovative designs with versions produced by fashion icons Jean Paul Gaultier and Missoni, among others.
Its low modular structure, that harks back to the North African and Middle Eastern majlis, invites users to relax and lounge with friends and family in a way that was entirely new at the beginning of the 1970s for Western cultures.
Roche Bobois, AlBahie Auction House, Qatar Charity and Katara’s clients, associates, patrons, art collectors and the general public have been invited to attend the exhibition of the completed works at AlBahie Auction House until June 6.
Following the exhibition, the works will be auctioned at AlBahie Auction House on June 7 at 9pm, with the aim of raising as much money as possible for the Rofaqa initiative.
Nicolas Roche, creative director of Roche Bobois, said: “We’re delighted with the results and hope that collectors, Roche Bobois’ clients and friends and all those who support contemporary art, creativity, invention and design will support the auction.”
Rami El Natsha, deputy managing director of Tivoli Group of Companies, business partner of Roche Bobois in Qatar, said: “We’re delighted to be supporting Rofaqa. There is no better time than the holy month of Ramadan to support philanthropic causes, offering orphan children around the world the hope of a brighter future.”
Ashraf Abu Issa, chairman & chief executive of Abu Issa Holding and co-founder of AlBahie Auction House, noted: “We look forward to welcoming guests during the holy month of Ramadan in support of this initiative that brings together contemporary art and design for the benefit of Qatar Charity.”
HE Sheikh Dr Hassan bin Mohamed bin Ali al-Thani with Ashraf Abu Issa and Ahmed al-Bahrani.
