Qatar- Artistic interpretations of Arabian horses on show at Katara

Breathtaking visual interpretations of Arabian horses and other animals by four artists from different backgrounds are on show at the 'Vibrant Earth — Fauna Collection which opened on Thursday at Katara Cultural Village.

In line with Qatar-India 2019 Year of Culture celebration, the exhibition serves as the second part of the 'Multaqa Al Qulub Wal Funun: A Gathering of Hearts & Crafts show presented by the Indian Embassy in partnership with Radiant Arts— an international platform for Dawoodi Bohra artists.

Twenty-nine works by Indian artist Burhanuddin Nagarwala, Tanzanian wildlife artist Samina Sachak, and Yemeni artists Mazhar Nizar and calligrapher and graphic designer Mohammed Moiny are featured at the exhibition which runs for 13 days. It follows the success of an Arabic calligraphy exhibition featuring works by seven Dawoodi Bohra artists.

'Our first exhibition focused on works by calligraphy artists while for this show the theme is wildlife so each of us did a series on this subject, Nagarwala told The Peninsula yesterday.

Seventeen of the works on display depict stunning renditions of horses in distinct styles by the artists including Nagarwala who admitted his favourite subject is equine art.

'I like their speed expressed using bold strokes. Whenever I paint horses, I want to show their inherent characteristics like beauty, grace and power, said Nagarwala whose paintings showcase horse racing and portraiture.

With horses as a main focus, the exhibition appeals to Qatari art lovers. For several millennia, the Arabian horse has been regarded a symbol of strength, grace and gentleness in this region with a long established equine tradition. Dating back thousands of years, the Arabs have bred horses which became instrumental in leading them to victory during wars as well as served their daily life in times of peace. The fierce tiger and the ostentatious Indian peafowl are among the other subjects of the paintings being showcased at the exhibition.

Nagarwala said his interest in art was ignited at a young age as his father was into the art business which led him to be a professional artist finishing a Masters degree in Fine Arts.

On taking part in an exhibition in Qatar, he said, 'We got a really good response. We are very much thankful to Katara and the Indian Embassy for supporting us by providing us the opportunity and platform to showcase our work.

'Vibrant Earth — Fauna Collection will remain open to the public from 10am to 10pm until August 13 at Katara Building 18 Gallery 2.

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