The “Love” exhibition by artist Shahida Ahmed, an artistic experience exploring love as a universal language through diverse visual expressions and perspectives, opened yesterday at Katara Cultural Village.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Katara Cultural Village deputy general manager Saif Saad al-Dosari, British ambassador Neerav Patel, Pakistan’s ambassador Muhammad Aamer; and a group of artists.
Ahmed is an award-winning British contemporary artist, writer, podcast artist and educator whose multidisciplinary practice explores language, identity, culture and human connection.
For “Hubb” (Arabic for love), she brings her strands together in an exhibition centred on love, peace and unity, creating a contemporary meeting point between British and Arab cultural perspectives.
In an interview with *Gulf Times, she stated: “As a British artist, it was very important for me to represent art as a universal dialogue.”
“What I am trying to do is to captivate culture through Arabic calligraphy,” Ahmed continued. “I have used different forms and styles of art to give the message that language is very important in different cultures and religions, and in different forms, and it brings people together.”
“I picked up the three Arabic words throughout the exhibition, ‘love, peace, and unity’,” she said. “The exhibition starts with love, as it is very strong, and ends on peace. The power of art is what brings communities together; for me, that is my universal dialogue, and I use it in my work.”
Ahmed’s exhibition is the third at Katara; she was given the platform to present her current exhibition, which is different from the others, and she has also exhibited internationally.
This is the first time she has used Arabic calligraphy throughout the entire exhibition, in all her hand-painted works and installations, as well as a ceramic sculpture.
Working across painting, sculpture, installation and mixed media, Ahmed draws particular inspiration from Arabic calligraphy and the visual heritage of the Arab world.
She transforms words and letterforms through colour, texture, pattern, light and sculptural form, bringing together cultural influences through a contemporary British perspective.
Her artworks are held in a range of collections, reflecting the reach and enduring relevance of a practice developed across different cultural and creative contexts.
Alongside her studio practice, Ahmed’s work as a writer, podcast artist and educator extends her engagement beyond the gallery, creating opportunities for dialogue, learning and cultural exchange.
At the heart of her practice is a belief in art as a shared language, one capable of connecting people across geography, culture and experience.
Her multidisciplinary background and sustained engagement with Arab visual culture position her practice particularly strongly within international platforms committed to cultural dialogue.
