Some of the artworks created by Qatari artist Faraj Daham on display at ‘Precaution’ exhibition which opened on Tuesday at Al Markhiya Gallery at the Fire Station. PIC: Raynald C Rivera / The Peninsula
Qatari contemporary artist Faraj Daham has risen to prominence for his seminal works which are inspired by the transformation of the world around him and respond to the rapid changes experienced in Qatari society.
In his latest solo exhibition which opened on Tuesday at Al Markhiya Gallery at the Fire Station, Daham encapsulates in about 50 mixed media pieces and steel work how the unprecedented emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has shaken the world and transformed the society.
Daham calls the exhibition titled “Precaution” (Al Ehteraz) “a result of the COVID-19 pandemic — an abrupt event that has dismantled the world’s immunity.”
Since the COVID-19 outbreak last year, artists around the world including those in Qatar have been creating art pieces taking inspiration from the pandemic and Daham puts his own interpretation of these challenging times in these unique artworks.
One of the major exhibitions presented by Al Markhiya Gallery for this season, “Precaution” speaks to the viewer through the pieces fashioned from a variety of distinct materials using common colours that reinforce the message it is supposed to convey.
“Precaution and prudence take the form of different garments; a leather shield, silver metal chains or a leather veil attached to the neck or hand, containing a roll or a piece of paper that is difficult to decipher. Our modern translation of precaution in this time of pandemic takes the form of, mask, gloves, and other means of protection from a force we cannot see or understand,” he said.
Faraj Daham is a renowned Qatari artist who has exhibited his works in Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, QM Gallery AlRiwaq, and Katara, among others. He also has numerous international participations, including exhibitions in Spain, Korea, China and India.
“Our World Is Burning” a contemporary art exhibition held at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris and “Lived Forward: Art And Culture In Doha From 1960-2020”, an exhibition held at Mathaf focusing on generations of artists and cultural activists who played a pivotal role in Doha’s cultural scene were two of the latest exhibitions Daham took part in.
In 2019, he featured in a solo exhibition titled “See the Unseen” at the Fire Station Artist in Residence, following his month-long residency at “What about Art?” Foundation in Mumbai, India as part of Qatar-India 2019 Year of Culture. “Precaution” exhibition is open for public viewing until March 25 following COVID-19 safety protocols.
