The fine arts scene in Qatar is vibrant and diverse. Creative minds are ever busy giving birth to a heterogeneous cosmos of art that helps nurture talent and offers immense opportunities to established artists.
Patricia Kohle Dabat, a French expatriate, has recently moved to Doha where her husband works in the oil sector. She is a decorative artist and a muralist. During her one-and-a-half-year stay in Qatar, she has found enough inspiration and sees ample opportunities to make her mark.
She often commissions work from different countries and prepares her artworks at her peaceful apartment. During an interview with Community, she spoke at length about her works and experience of living in Qatar.
Please tell us about your journey so far.
I am a decorative painter. I was trained at the Institute of Decorative Paintings Versailles, France. I got my degree with honours. Since then, I have been doing decorative paintings especially ‘Trompe l’oeil’ [fools the eye], a special old European traditional form of decorative painting. It was popular throughout Europe from the 17th century onwards, and it was used in many palaces, like Versailles, where we can still see them today. We learnt to paint things look real. I also love to teach painting and have been teaching the art for five years.
I was born in Paris and raised as an expatriate child visiting different countries with my family. I have a sister and a brother. They live in London. I have a son who lives in the US.
I started my career as a French-English translator. But I discovered Trompe l’oeil paintings when we were living in The Netherlands in 2002. I painted more and more. Then, I decided that this is what I wanted to do. I started taking classes in The Netherlands. I kept on painting. I also started teaching the art. I got my degree two years ago because I needed it to teach in France.
How will you describe decorative painting?
It is anything that can make a house or a public building more beautiful. It is not quite same like ‘the art for art sake’. Most of it is realistic and some of it is not. Most of it has to do with perspective. If you paint on a flat wall a window, a door or an opening on to a landscape, it changes the wall or the building completely. It changes a home completely. All of a sudden you can see a sea or desert on the walls of your house.
It also can make a big difference to the morale or mood of the people who see it every day. That is (what is) decorative painting.
Why have you chosen the art form?
I especially chose the art genre because l like painting things that have an impact on daily life and on a large number of people. If you make an art painting, people will have to come to a gallery to see it. Muralist is another term used for decorative painting artist. If I paint a mural at a public building, so many people will see it.
I only like to paint beautiful and happy things. If I paint, in the middle of a crowded city, a beautiful open landscape looking out onto fields or a forest, that can be a pleasure to watch for many people. You can call me a kind of street artist. I mostly stay with the idea of being realistic.
Who are the artists who have inspired you the most?
There are several very good and well-known muralists. I like the works of Cornelis Norbertus Gysbrechts, Graham Rust, Banksy, FaithXLVII, and Michel Nadai. I find all kind of street arts interesting. But I am yet to meet a muralist or decorative artist in Qatar.
What kind of satisfaction you draw from you work?
For me, art means two things. First, it is a personal expression. Second, it helps you have an impact on the world around you.
I get a real sense of satisfaction when I paint an object and it looks real. I also get satisfaction in making the environment more beautiful.
Many people appreciate my work. But I got real satisfaction once when one of my first decorative painting professors said to me that you are not allowed to do better than your professor. The comment gave me a lot of encouragement and confidence.
As an established artist, what will you advise young aspirants?
Paint or draw every day. Never put the brush or the pencil down. Even if you are not inspired, draw whatever is in front of you.
It is by practice only that one can find an artistic voice. Young artists should copy the masters. That is how you can learn technique.
How do you see Qatar as a decorative artist?
It is a very good place actually. There are many buildings that I think I can paint. There are many opportunities. Being a realist, I have painted nature in Qatar.
Living here gives me a kind of inspiration to go ahead with my work. I have started getting many projects here. I am going to take part in an international art festival soon to be held at Fire Station.
The architecture here — the mix of modern and traditional — is new for me because I never lived in the Middle East before. West Bay, to look at, is amazing. Other places like Souq Waqif and mosques are also amazing. They use traditional shapes of Arab windows and other traditional designs. I have started incorporating the designs into my paintings. It is fantastic here and I have a lot of time to paint.
I am amazed by the cultural diversity in Qatar. The activities to promote the art and culture are wonderful. I see a lot of artists in Qatar and I meet them and get inspired by them. I have taken part in two exhibitions here so far.
Actually, I am really happy to be here because it this place is so friendly to artists. There is a large international community and everybody is friendly. One can do many different activities. I have been to many countries, but have not seen such kind of diversity in one place. Everybody is bringing their talent to this country. The government seems very supportive to art, sports and education, and that is a very good thing to do.
Patricia Kohle Dabat. Photo by Ram Chand
