The recently held Qatar International Art Festival 2019 (QIAF 2019) enthralled audiences and engaged a large number of artists in a variety of activities, the organisers said.
The second edition of the festival was organised by MAPS international in association with Katara – the Cultural Village.
QIAF 2019 commenced with the ‘Qatar Tour’, wherein all international as well as Qatar-based participating artists joined a city tour that included landmarks such as the Museum of Islamic Art, National Museum of Qatar, The Pearl-Qatar and Souq Waqif.
Registration of the artists was followed by live painting sessions. The QIAF 2019 art exhibition was inaugurated by Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti, general manager of Katara, on the evening of November 1 in the presence of the organisers, ambassadors of different countries, other dignitaries and distinguished guests.
The works of more than 200 artists were on display across four galleries of Buildings 18 and 19 at Katara. More than 1,000 guests visited QIAF on the day of the inauguration and were highly impressed by the talent on display, according to a press statement by the organisers.
“QIAF is a congregation of not only artists but also of those who enjoy art and its different forms of expression. Talents from across the world gathered at Katara to display their creativity on a single platform. Qatar had witnessed spectacular participation from the international and local artist communities in 2018. This year, more than 200 artists from some 65 countries gathered for the amazing celebration of art,” the statement noted.
“QIAF is a mega event of its kind for creative people. Rashmi Agarwal, president of MAPS International, has been pursuing her dream to bring art and artists on a common platform. Her passion for art led her to initiate QIAF with the aim of promoting national and international artists, art and artwork,” it added.
Visual art communicates innovative ideas and QIAF supports all kinds of visual art exhibits, the organisers pointed out. This is what the QIAF visitors witnessed during the gallery walk. Featured were paintings and sculptures as well as photography and fashion design - all with innovative ideas.
QIAF also hosted masterclasses and workshops by renowned artists to help gain new insights into art forms. The third day witnessed multiple creative activities under one roof, including live painting sessions by all artists. The masterclasses shed light on Madhubani paintings, watercolour and calligraphy. Creative minds were further enriched by a live painting symposium and panel talk show, while a documentary featuring the renowned artist from India, M F Hussain, was a highlight of the evening.
A fashion show was the glittering event on the fourth day wherein the participants “expressed the beautiful side of costumes and accessories with style and substance”.
QIAF 2019 collaborated with ‘Artmosphere’ a popular art magazine covering the art buzz in Europe, to feature the profiles and works of all the participating artists.
The last day of QIAF hosted a ceremony where awards and certificates were given away in appreciation of “art, artists and art forms”.