RasGas has showcased the work of several Qatari artists, poets and composers during the Barzan stone-laying ceremony. “Guests that included HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, several industry leaders and energy and community representatives were treated to a collaborative performance called Barzan Symphony - a specially-commissioned piece by Qatari composer Hamad Naama and performed by the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra,” a press release issued by RasGas said. “The music accompanied a sequence of traditional Qatari dances and movements performed by local school children,” it said.“The arts remain a strong and vibrant aspect of Qatar’s culture connecting the past to the present,” the release said. “This message was expertly presented during the opening of the stone-laying ceremony in the form of a poem by renowned Qatari poet Mohamed bin Futis al-Marri.”
It said al-Marri’s poem Barzan, was “spectacularly projected onto the main screens in the auditorium and provided linkage between a series of films covering the past, present and future of the Barzan Gas Project and Qatar”. “A distinctive and bespoke suite of calligraphy from internationally-acclaimed Arabic calligrapher Ali Hassan al-Jaber made the projection and the ceremony all the more special and strengthened the connection to Qatari culture,” the release said.“Al-Jaber’s beautiful craftsmanship was most notable in the representation of the word “Barzan” which was a prominent feature throughout the event and beyond.”The finale of the stone-laying ceremony was the presentation of a painting to HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. The painting was the work of Mohamed Ali Abdulla, a prominent Qatari artist and historian. Ali Abdulla is considered an expert in architectural heritage of Qatar. “While the Barzan Gas Project will be another huge technological and operational achievement for RasGas and its shareholders, Qatar Petroleum and ExxonMobil, the significance of the project is more wide-reaching,” the release said.“The Barzan Gas Project will facilitate the development of Qatar as defined by HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani in the Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Qatar National Strategy 2011 to 2016,” it added.