Qatar Museums launches POW! WOW! festival
Date
11/27/2021 2:25:35 AM
(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Doha: Qatar Museums (QM) has officially launched POW! WOW! on Wednesday at National Museum of Qatar. POW! WOW is an international mural arts festival founded by Jasper Wong in 2009. And QM is the first exclusive regional host of the said festival.
Qatar Museums CEO Ahmad Musa Al Namla graced the event saying:“Over the next week, we will have the opportunity to watch local, regional and international artists enliven the area around the Al Sadd Metro Station with inspiring and thought-provoking artworks.”
He also disclosed that various QM public art initiatives provide a platform for artists to showcase their creativity and engage members of the community.
QM Director of Public Art Arch, Abdulrahman Ahmad Al Ishaq told The Peninsula:“We think that murals are kind of a gateway for people who are interested in arts, whether they're individuals or private sector, they cannot shy away from art, the formula is not very new to Doha.”
Al Ishaq added that they wanted to take art and culture outside the museums walls and bring them closer to the public, to their streets and neighbourhoods.“Our mission is to also grow the art scene organically, by creating the right conditions for it to flourish. And perhaps the art form that is closest to heart of the public and the one that is at the core of the freedom of expression, is mural art,” he explained. Che Anderson, representative of Jasper Wong spoke about how they are thrilled to be doing the festival in Qatar.
“I don't think I even know the words to express how excited we are, to have started this idea and project initially in Hong Kong and then Honolulu, Hawaii and to expand here. To work with Qatar Museums and other amazing team is an honour and privilege,” he narrated.
Talking about the theme of the mural arts, Anderson said that all the artists were given a background of the community, ideas around the metro station where they will be painting, and who are the people to be looking and walking.“Each artist has a different style to offer, some typography, some lettering, portrait work, fun cartoony things and all of them are meant to uplift and engage [the community,” he said.
Twelve local, regional and international artists joined in this year's festival which will run until December 1.
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