Artworks explore the perception and distortion of reality, and nature as a vessel for creativity

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In its continued mission to nurture a thriving arts landscape in Qatar and support artists, Qatar Museums has unveiled the Enclosed Realities exhibition by internationally exhibited visual artist, Sabrina Puppin, and Glimpse of Nature, showcasing artworks of a group of current and former Artists in Residence, at the Fire Station: Artist in Residence.

Enclosed Realities showcases the artist’s exploration of our perception of reality and its limitations using abstract colours.  As a choreographer, Puppin frames the action of colour in a very unique and unexpected way, amplifying or shrinking different aspects of the painting, investigating perception and reality.

Puppin’s works interrogates our individual and unique view of the world by examining her own interpretation of reality and how it can sometimes be distorted. Her artworks display a strong and experimental nature in their use of colour and form, dematerialising the known object-based world. We look forward to showcasing a collection of Puppin’s work, which depicts our personal lens of the world through an interplay between colour and space.”

Puppin, originally from Italy, lives and works between Doha and New York City. She has exhibited at numerous exhibitions across the globe, including the Satellite Art Show in Miami, SHIM Gallery and Cluster Gallery in New York, and galleries and museums in Germany, Russia, China, India, and the USA. Her work is presently held in collections in Argentina, Ecuador, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Qatar, Russia, Switzerland, the UK, and the USA.

Glimpse of Nature, organised and curated by Saida Ali Al-Khulaifi, Amal Zeyad Ali and Maha AlSubaey,

explores nature as both a vessel and medium for creativity through a diverse range of practices and processes presented by current and past members of the Fire Station: Artist in Residence Programme.

Works by May Almannai, Aisha Al-Muhannadi, Fatma Alnaimi, Naila Al-Thani, Amena Al-Yousef, Nourbanu Hijazi, Michael Perrone, Mariam Rafehi, Guillaume Rouseré and Titika Stamouli draw inspiration from nature, using objects from the natural world as art materials.Commenting on the exhibition, [Saida Ali Al-Khulaifi, EXHIBITION CURATOR, FIRE STATION] said: “Nature is not limited to our organic preconceptions of it – it can be examined and appreciated artistically through analogue and digital techniques. Glimpse of Nature sees artists mimicking, observing, upcycling and digitising nature using different mediums and techniques to translate their ongoing dialogue with their surroundings. The exhibition also serves to highlight the growing impact humans have on the environment and the ways in which it is forced to adapt.”

Enclosed Realities runs until 22 November at the Fire Station, Gallery 3. Glimpse of Nature runs until 5 December at Gallery 4. For more information, please visit: http://www.firestation.org.qa/en/events

Admission

Opening hours for the Fire Station: 9 am- 7pm Saturday through Thursdays and 1:30 pm-7 pm on Fridays.

Qatar Museums has implemented protocols in accordance with recommendations from Qatar’s Health Protection & Communicable Disease Control office of the Ministry of Public Health. In keeping with the guidelines set by the Ministry of Public Health, a limited number of visitors and staff will be allowed in the Fire Station at any given time.

Upon arrival, visitors will be required to present a “green” health status on the Ehteraz virus-tracing app. Masks are required for all visitors (12 years of age and older). Each person will also be checked for a normal temperature reading at the entrance. Visitors who have a temperature or do not have a mask will not be allowed into the Fire Station.

More information about QM’s preventative measures for health and safety can be found here.

GO: Visit http://www.firestation.org.qa/en/events for more information.

ENDS

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About the Fire Station

Fire Station is a contemporary art space committed to supporting artists through its artist in residence program as well as engaging the local communities in Qatar by providing opportunities and events, which include exhibitions and public programs.

Built in 1982, the Fire Station was previously the home of the first civil defense authority in Qatar, until late 2012. Repurposed in 2014 to host the Fire Station: Artist in Residence, Ibrahim Al-Jaida, the architect leading the project, has preserved the original details of the building and its tower. The Annex and extended building were additions to the original structure.

At the Fire Station, we provide facilities, production support, mentorships, and curatorial support. Residents are selected through an Open Call application process, after which an esteemed jury convenes to make a final selection of up to 20 artists.

About Qatar Museums

Qatar Museums connects the museums, cultural institutions and heritage sites in Qatar and creates the conditions for them to thrive and flourish. It centralizes resources and provides a comprehensive organization for the development of museums and cultural projects, with a long-term ambition of creating a strong and sustainable cultural infrastructure for Qatar. Under the patronage of His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and led by its Chairperson, Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, QM is consolidating Qatar’s efforts to become a vibrant center for the arts, culture and education, in the Middle East and beyond.

Since its foundation in 2005, QM has overseen the development of the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA), Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, Fire Station: Artists in Residence, The National Museum of Qatar and the Al Zubarah World Heritage Site Visitor Centre, among other projects. Future projects include the launch of the highly anticipated 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum and the Qatar Children’s Museum.

QM is committed to instigating Qatar’s future generation of arts, heritage and museum professionals. At its core is a commitment to nurturing artistic talent, creating opportunities and developing the skills to service Qatar’s emerging art economy. By means of a multi-faceted program and public art initiatives, QM seeks to push the boundaries of the traditional museum model, and create cultural experiences that spill out onto the streets and seek to involve a wide audience. Through a strong emphasis on originating art and culture from within and fostering a spirit of national participation, QM is helping Qatar find its own distinctive voice in today’s global cultural debates.

Press Contacts:

Federica Zuccarini, Qatar Museums: fzuccarini@qm.org.qa (+974 4402 8510)