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Fire Station announced the opening of two new exhibitions that mark the completion of its 2024 Al Ruwad Residency. Threads of Memory by Haifa Al Khuzaie and Between Rust and Art by Ahmed Al Hamar will showcase the unique creative visions of the two established Qatari artists, as part of Fire Station's commitment to supporting local talent across career stages. Haifa Al Khuzaie's Threads of Memory reimagines Qatari heritage through contemporary forms. Drawing on patterns from traditional jewelry, clothing, and textiles, Al Khuzaie incorporates handmade ceramics and mixed media to weave together memory, identity, and cultural continuity. Her work bridges past and present, honouring heritage while envisioning its future. Between Rust and Art by Ahmed Al Hamar explores the tension between decay and preservation by reinterpreting elements drawn from daily life into minimal artistic compositions. Al Hamar's practice is rooted in materiality, texture, and layering. By inducing rust on iron sheets and interrupting its natural process, Al Hamar creates works that transform cultural motifs into powerful reflections on memory, transformation, and reinterpretation. Launched in 2021, Al Ruwad Residency supports and fosters dialogue between Qatar-based established and emerging artists. By providing time, space, and resources, the programme reinforces Fire Station's role as a hub for artistic exchange and innovation. The residency also ensures Fire Station's continued connection to local artists and creates meaningful exchanges through mentorship. Nominated by Fire Station, Al Ruwad artists participate for up to two years, gaining access to studio space and the opportunity to engage with the wider community through public programmes such as talks and workshops.

Al Markhiya Gallery is preparing to launch a new group exhibition titled “Reshaped” at the Fire Station - Artists’ Residence, on Tuesday evening, August 26, from 7 to 9pm, with the participation of a select group of Qatari and Arab artists currently working in Qatar.The exhibition brings together the works of more than twenty-five artists.In this context, Anas Qutait, art co-ordinator of Al Markhiya Gallery, said: “Through this exhibition, we are keen to present diverse artistic experiences that reflect the richness of the Arab art scene in Qatar. We emphasise the importance of materials as a partner in the creative process. The diversity of participants and their various styles give the exhibition an aesthetic and cognitive dimension that enriches the audience’s experience and exposes them to new interpretations of contemporary art.” Qutait added that the exhibition offers the public a unique opportunity to view a wide and diverse collection of artworks that reflect the spirit of experimentation and innovation among the participating artists, where materials and styles intertwine to create an integrated sensory and intellectual experience.The exhibition also provides an opportunity for visitors to interact directly with the works and explore the way each artist approaches both materials and ideas, making each painting, sculpture, or installation a unique experience that engages the senses and provokes thought.Through this diversity, the exhibition transforms into a vibrant space for contemplation and exploration, allowing the audience to experience art from a different perspective and brings them closer to understanding the depth of the creative process and the nature of the relationship between the artists and their material.This makes “Reshaped” an important addition to the cultural and artistic scene in Doha. At its core, the exhibition presents an artistic contemplation of the relationship between material, meaning, and transformation.“Reshaped” is part of Al Markhiya Gallery’s ongoing efforts to support Arab artists and highlight their experiences, while also consolidating Doha’s position as a prominent cultural destination hosting the most prominent art events in the region.