Artist shows ties between Italy and Qatar have No boundaries

An exhibition by Doha-based Italian artist Caterina Varchetta is set to open today (October 2) at Katara – the Cultural Village, showcasing a collection of canvas and porcelains that portrays the strong ties between Qatar and Italy.Titled No boundaries, the exhibition is organised by the embassy of Italy in Doha and Katara, and will run until October 13 at Katara’s Building 22, Gallery 2.“We are delighted to open the Italian embassy’s cultural programme in the fall-winter season with this very special exhibition, a unique collection of approximately 20 canvas and 20 porcelains created by Varchetta,” Italian ambassador Pasquale Salzano said in a press statement.He noted that the event is officially part of the initiative supported by the Italian ministry of foreign affairs and international co-operation to promote overseas the evolution of Italian contemporary art.“We are very proud that Varchetta created these artworks here in Doha, where she is exposed to the cultural influence of Qatari traditions and inspired by the landscapes of this beautiful country,” the envoy stressed.“No boundaries embodies … the close relations between Qatar and Italy that are constantly expanding to new fields of co-operation, including art and culture, where new creative languages are emerging, also thanks to these growing contacts,” Salzano added.Organisers described the message of the exhibition as “powerful”, saying that “art knows no borders and goes beyond any barriers and rejects all constrictions. For the artist, it means no limits, no divisions and no restrictions”.“Art implies also fluidity and dialogue. This dialogue is firstly visible in the close relationship between her canvas and porcelains, but it is also emblematic of Varchetta’s willingness to transcend the constraints of pre-conceived artistic boundaries, whether self-imposed or enforced from conventions.”Elena Sabattini, art curator of the exhibition, said the exhibition “represents the explosive encounter that generated in the artist a new creative impulse, discovered in Qatar, which shook her artistic intensity to the core”.Varchetta’s stunning works in Doha highlights her use of the red colour as “a new, dominant force”.The gold colour is also a constant feature in the artist’s works, which shines a spotlight on a country like Qatar, known not only as “a source of energy and creativity but also a gateway to a deeper spiritual essence that goes beyond its (gold) connotation as a luxury item”.