Patriotism through creativity is at the core of two art exhibitions at Katara – the Cultural Village that mark the completion of one year since the unjust siege was imposed on Qatar on June 5, 2017.
Portraits, cartoons, paintings, caricatures and photographs are showcased at the exhibitions “that present a scathing criticism of the siege countries and patriotic representation of Qatar’s heroic resistance against the blockade,” Katara has said in a statement.

Ahmed al-Sayed, deputy general manager of Katara, opened an exhibition of siege-related cartoons by prominent Qatari cartoonists at Building 5 on Tuesday.
The cartoonists are covering one year of the blockade under the hashtag #QatarForEver. Tariq al-Jaida, manager of Katara Art Centre, was also present along with other officials, visitors and dignitaries. The exhibition will run for three weeks.

Organised by Katara Art Centre, the exhibition features a host of cartoons by six prominent Qatari cartoonists – Abdul Aziz Sadiq, Saad al-Mohannadi, Salman al-Malik, Rashid al-Kuwari, Abdul Aziz Yousuf and Mohamed Abdullatif. These cartoons have appeared in Qatari newspapers and magazines over the past year. 
The cartoons present a “harsh sarcasm of the siege countries and their failure to defeat Qatar” on the one hand and “glorify Qatar’s successful resistance against the blockade” on the other, the statement notes.
They make “strong political statements about the hypocrisy and oppressive measures of the siege countries against Qatar” since the blockade was imposed a year ago. 

Another exhibition at Building 18 features portraits of Qatari leaders and paintings and photographs focusing on the blockade. It also features symbolic fences at the entrance of the exhibition hall representing the blockade.
A number of portraits of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani by Qatari artists, depicting him as the icon of Qatari resistance against the siege, are on display at the exhibition. It also features portraits of His Highness the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser and other dignitaries.

Two artworks done with broken glasses and pieces of wood, woven around a Qatari map, show the resilience of Qatar in the midst of the unjust siege. A cartoon in colour shows a butterfly coming out of the cocoon of the blockade, indicating that Qatar has become stronger and self-sufficient through the continuing siege.
Several photographs that depict Qatari heritage and monuments and capture moments from the Qatari resistance against the siege are also on display.
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