Given how 14 of the 24 participating artists are new MAPS members, there’s a sense of added excitement to the Colours of Desert exhibition, writes Anand HollaTucked a bit away from the endless gush of chilly sea-swept breeze, an exhibition of art as vibrant as Doha’s expat population and as fitting a tribute to Qatar’s sincere embracing of art, tradition, and culture, has proven to be just the right mega art event to bring 2015 to a close.At Gate 2 and Gate 3 of the Katara Amphitheater — open from 10am to 10pm until tomorrow — the Colours of Desert exhibition, featuring wide-ranging works of 24 artists, including some top Qatari names, has been drawing an impressive stream of visitors.“A closer look at the title of the exhibition will tell you that it’s not meant to limit the artists to any theme. In fact, we have encouraged them to showcase whatever they wish because “colours” stand for diversity and range. And Qatar is home to people of so many nationalities and cultures,” says Rashmi Agarwal, a silk painter and also the President of Middle-East Art and Silk Painters (MAPS).In its third annual group exhibition, Qatar-based art community MAPS has continued to celebrate variety. “What’s special is that the exhibition features all sorts of art; from acrylic and oil painting to silk painting to bead art,” Agarwal says, pointing out that art is not just limited to paintings. “Craft is also art. We have provided good space to everyone. I am happy with how the exhibition has turned out.”Given how 14 of the 24 participating artists are new members, there’s a sense of added excitement to the event. “These artists feel proud to have their first exhibition during the Qatar National Day, and be inaugurated by Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti, General Manager of Katara. I believe this event will serve as a platform for the upcoming artists,” says Agarwal, while acknowledging the support she has received from all corners and all participating artists.The 24 artists whose works are up at the exhibition are Rashmi Agarwal (India), Athba al-Thani (Qatar), Fouad al-Emadi (Kuwait), Abdul Rehman al-Dorani (Qatar), Moudhi al-Hajri (Qatar), Lyubov Jalladyan (Tajikistan), Sara Ahmed al-Emadi (Qatar), Nibras al-Rukabi (British-Iraqi), Huda Hawwa (Qatar), Adnan Siraj (Pakistan), Keramat Andalibi (Netherlands), Professor Bashar Ali Ibrahim (Iraq), Naseema Shukoor (India), Wafa Mohamed Ahmed Elsebaie (Egypt), Cristina Scicolone (Italy), Karen Alicia Sinclair (Trinidad & Tobago islands), Sana Hussan (Pakistan), Camilia Abu Hamda (England), Cosette Kanso (Lebanon), Elsy Tabet (Lebanon), Dina Mourad Hurn (England), Khaled Elmesawy (Egypt), Shuruq Ali Hassan (Iraq), and Kavitha Murali Murugan (India). Community caught up with some of the artists to know more about their works on display: Cristina Scicolone I have been painting since I was a child. It’s always been my hobby. I paint in acrylic, whatever I see and like. This portrait of a little girl is that of my cousin’s nephew. When I saw her picture, I knew I wanted to draw it. If after the exhibition, it remains unsold, I will gift it to my cousin back in Italy. As for my other works, most of them reflect my love for nature and landscapes. There’s this painting of this very famous Rialto Bridge at the Grand Canal in Venice. It depicts the romantic sunset at this place, which looks magical because of the play of golden light due to some darkness in this spot.Nibras al-Rukabi My work focusses on Islamic Art but a very different type of it. I use the Qur’an as my inspiration, and specifically, Surat al-Waqiah, which focusses on the judgment day. I like to take aspects of that and translate them visually. For instance, this painting titled Tree of Zaqoom shows the only tree that’s there in hell. This tree has a fruit which when you eat, swells in your throat. When I was a child, this tree used to play on my mind all the time. So I had to paint it. It’s almost like a symbol of hope, but it’s a false hope. I have made it attractive on purpose because I want people to look at it and then look closer. That’s why the colours are also vibrant. I also like to highlight the woman who wears a hijab, and how important she is, how much of a role model she is, and so on.Professor Bashar Ali Ibrahim I have specialised in Arabic calligraphy and I try to use elements of that in my works. I have painted the Aspire Tower in a dramatic way, almost abstract, because that’s how I see it in my mind. Also, in such works, I let the colours do the talking. I have also made acrylic paintings on old paper, mixed media, and have played with calligraphy and texture to create dimensions. I have also used lines from Rubaiyat Khayyam — the poems of the famous Persian poet Omar Khayyam — to accentuate the meaning of my paintings.Keramat Andalibi I am a self-taught artist and none of my works that I create are for sale. So, in this exhibition, I have presented my previous acrylic on canvas works that deal with nature as a theme because I love animals. For instance, I have painted a donkey because it is an amazing animal, the beast of burden that’s known to not make the same mistake twice. My favourite though is that of the ant pushing a huge drop of water because I see that the ant is always moving forward, and it’s always working towards something. The ant is trying to save the world by holding on to water. We humans are not less than an ant. We are much bigger, in fact. We should do more.Naseema Shukoor I create everything from bead-work, paper quilling, embroidery, collage, wax work and pixel art, and for this exhibition, I have presented some sugar bead art, coffee art using toothpicks, and pixelated paper art. The one that catches everybody’s attention is this large bead-work replica of a beautiful oil painting by Raja Ravi Varma titled The Maharashtrian Lady. It features an Indian lady clad in traditional attire and ornaments, holding a plate of fruits. That piece needed 150,000 beads and six months to complete.Kavita Murugan Painting is my passion, and so is dance and music. Art is vital to me. I was 12 and I was drawing a hibiscus in school when the teacher told me to draw the same hibiscus in the books of all the 24 students of my class. That incident in my childhood boosted me a lot to pursue drawing and painting as a passion. I have tried my hand at oil painting, metal cutting, sand painting, solar woodwork, flower-making, and paper quilling. For this exhibition, I have worked on my versions of Warli paintings, Madhubani paintings and acrylic works.Sana Hussan I am fascinated by Marbling and traditional Turkish Ebru art. For the exhibition, I switched from paper to canvas. I have used different techniques and things, and have tried to project something related to Islam because I feel art is related to you and your inner self. This painting features a man praying at night in calmness and peace. I am trying to show how he is talking directly to his Creator, Allah. His prayers, shown in the way of feathers, are drifting into the blue sky, above the clouds and the moon. I have also experimented with the Ebru Akasi technique, where you marble a single paper twice or thrice by using a stencil and the results are certainly encouraging.