Katara - the Cultural Village Foundation inaugurated the ‘Rhythm of the Alphabet’ exhibition by artist Rami Khouri yesterday, showcasing 35 pieces of Arabic calligraphy in an innovative and vivid manner.
The paintings convey famous Islamic sayings on canvas brushed with oil.
Katara general manager Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti, together with the Syrian artist, led the ribbon-cutting ceremony and inauguration, which was attended by art enthusiasts and guests.
Khouri carefully picked phrases that are recognised within the Muslim community and accurately referred to noble ethics, values and rights in Islam, Katara said in a statement.
“The exhibition draws our attention as it presents the Arabic calligraphy in a dynamic technique. The artist used a varied style that carried the character from a stalemate to a spoken and animated state,” Dr al-Sulaiti said.
“The exhibitions we offer at Katara highlight a clear diversity in the ideas of artists and the ways each of them approaches the fine arts field, which clearly contributes to knowledge exchange between artists,” he noted. “In addition, the artistic platform provided at Katara contributes to enriching the artistic and cultural scene.”
Dr al-Sulaiti stressed that Katara hosts artists from various schools and provides the required support, which aims to gather them under one umbrella and foster creativity and art.
“In my works, I tried to break the patterns of the letters and render their lines into boundless shapes and elements that carry the essence and character of the Arabic calligraphy,” Khouri said.
Khouri is preparing for another exhibition in 2018, which he said will entail different surprises.
The artist, a member of Qatar Fine Arts Association who holds a bachelor degree in interior architecture, has taken part in various collective exhibitions at Katara.
lArgentina proposes event
Dr al-Sulaiti met with Argentina’s ambassador to Qatar Rossana Cecilia Surballe yesterday.
The meeting was held with the aim of enhancing cultural ties between Qatar and Argentina through co-operation among cultural entities in the two countries. During the visit, the ambassador made an event proposal, specifically to host a performance by a renowned Argentinian musician at Katara in October.
Dr al-Sulaiti welcomed the proposal and said: “Katara is keen on providing an authentic platform that showcases international music and art from different parts of the world, which stems from Katara’s keenness to build communication bridges between people from all walks of life through the formation of new windows that shed light on various cultures and traditions.”
The artist explains his artwork to Dr al-Sulaiti and other dignitaries.
