By Umer Nangiana
Characterised by the spirit of experimentation and refinement of talent by using raw and non-traditional materials in the creative process, this year’s exhibition of workshops by Katara Visual Art Centre features the best of the innovative sides of the participating artists.
From print-making to book art and ceramics to computer design, the art workshop combines academic and contemporary styles. And this novelty is particularly visible in the printmaking section of the workshop featuring some of the most established local and foreign artists.
“The Visual Arts Department is keen to organise this annual exhibition every year and now it is back in its third year. It is held [to give] opportunities and new experiences to [the artists],” says Hanadi al-Darwish, the Director of the Visual Art Department.
Running at Katara Cultural Complex, building 19, the exhibition ‘Creativity 3’ in its printmaking section features artworks by Elham Razani, Katalin Verabics, Clair Miluel, Ruchi Goel, Hamed Hani, Elizabeth Thanklice, Alive Zirimis, Saziye Atlay and many others. All artists have used different and unconventional techniques and material in the drawings, which are mostly done in black and white.
Elham Razani, an Iranian artist based in Doha, is a professional artist with over 14 years of painting experience. Born and raised in Iran, she holds a diploma in arts. She started her paintings with the classical Realism technique. After few years of honing her skills in this method and presenting many of her works in exhibitions and art galleries around the world, she decided to study other techniques.
And that is apparent in her prints. She started experimenting with abstract, post-modern and special conceptual techniques of painting long ago and has established herself in it.
“After 5 years of experimenting, I decided to use a mixture of these techniques in my works. I feel that this experimentation has helped me be more inspired and in turn has helped me to create more exciting work,” says Razani.
Her new work has given her more of an audience in Iran, Canada and Cyprus and has drawn the interest of quite a number of art enthusiasts. Razani enjoys teaching and encourages her students to experiment, express themselves and be creative.
She offers art classes from beginners to advanced level at The Pearl-Doha, where she currently resides. A member of International Artists Doha (IAD) and also a member of the Fine Art Society in Doha, she has developed her talent under the tutelage of renowned Iranian artists such as Kasra Kiai, Mehrdad Jamshidi and Leyla Khatibi.
Of the few colour prints, there is one in yellow that depicts Qatari life and culture and is presented by artist Charlene Kasdorf. Having lived and worked as an artist, illustrator, and educator in Canada, Thailand, Switzerland, the UK, and currently in Qatar, she earned her BFA with Honors back home in Canada.
While living internationally, she embraced teaching art at various levels and earned her Masters in International Education in Switzerland. She collaborates on various Qatar-based art and education projects, with past collaborations with the Museum of Islamic Art, QM Family Programmes, Medina Publishing, and several international schools in Doha. She is an active member of the Association of Illustrators and the International Artists of Doha.
Ruchi Goel, a Doha-based Indian artist, also featured at the exhibit, works mostly on paintings in different mediums. She is a microbiologist by profession and skilled in all kind of media such as oil, pencil, and watercolour.
Showcased in multiple exhibitions in Doha, her works are inspired by Indian tradition. She has also tried her hand at the 3D paintings and has received appreciation. She was chosen to participate in the Katara Spring Art Fair in 2013, Katara Hal Halal Festival 2014 and Doha Tribeca Film Festival in 2011.
Kati Verebics from Hungary has done her printmaking work in her typical style — combining aspects of picture with sketching and painting. Based in Budapest, Hungary, she holds a university degree in fine arts in painting and graphic art.
She has worked and exhibited outside Budapest in many countries. She has lived and worked in Italy where she received a scholarship to study while she has also exhibited her paintings in other countries including Qatar. She has also received the Gundel prize for contemporary art in 2008-2009, the Prize of Kogart in 2010.
She paints mainly oil on canvas but likes to mix other techniques on the panels. Collage is one of her favourite techniques.
A colour print by artist Rashida.
