Two sculptures by Iraqi artist to be installed at HIA

DOHA: Two sculptures by renowned Iraqi artist Dia Al Azzawi will soon join the growing collection of public art installations which continue to fascinate millions of visitors arriving at Hamad International Airport (HIA) every year.
Khalid Yousef Al Ibrahim, Chief Strategic Planning Officer, Qatar Museums (QM), said the sculptures to be installed in the coming weeks are part of QM’s thrust to make art an integral part of people’s daily life through its public art programme.
“Through our programme, we will continue to provide opportunities for everyone to access and interact with art and culture in their daily lives, from parks, at Qatar University, at hospitals and in HIA.
“Specifically, in the coming weeks we will add to the world-class collection of art objects created by local, regional and international artists throughout HIA by unveiling the sculptures by Azzawi which will inspire millions of visitors and residents travelling through the airport.”
Al Ibrahim was speaking at a press gathering yesterday at Idam in Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) to announce exhibitions and events QM has prepared this autumn, including Al Azzawi’s retrospective as one of the highlights.
Believed to be the largest solo exhibition by an Arab artist, the expo will run in two venues — Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art and QM Gallery Al Riwaq — and feature 546 works across 50 years and a range of media.
Born in Baghdad in 1939, Al Azzawi has been a central figure in Iraq’s art scene and is considered one of the most important artists of the Arab world. His major retrospective in Qatar displays QM’s impetus in the promotion of artists from the Arab world.
“We will continue to celebrate the influence and impact of Arab artists more generally in addition to championing established, home-grown artists such as Yousef Ahmad and Faraj Daham,” said Al Ibrahim.
‘I am the cry, who will give voice to me? Dia Al Azzawi: A Retrospective (from 1963 until tomorrow)’ will open on October 16 at Mathaf and October 17 at Al Riwaq and run until April 16. Another exhibition, ‘Fragments’ by Arab artist Mahmoud Obaidi will open on October 18 and run until January 30 at QM Gallery at Katara. The expo by the Iraqi-Canadian artist retraces the ‘organised chaos’ that led to the destruction of Iraq.
In line with Qatar China 2016 year of Culture, a photography exhibition will be inaugurated next month featuring works of four Chinese and two Qatari photographers who travelled to each other’s country to document another way of life and another culture.
From November 2 to 5, QM, the Ministry of Culture of China and the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Culture will hold the Chinese Festival at MIA Park. It will include performances by Zhejiang’s leading artistes, a Chinese market, Chinese tea house, stage, photography exhibition space, food stalls and children’s area. 
Ali Al Kubaisi, Chief Archaeology Officer; Khalifa Al Obaidly, Director of Artists in Residence; Mohamed Nasser Al Othman; Namka Beschi and Maryam Al Thani also spoke at yesterday’s media event.