VCUQ to present Qatari artist' retrospective

The Gallery at Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar (VCUQ) is set to present ‘Qatar Now: Ali Hassan — A Retrospective’, an exhibition curated by Dr Abdulla Al Thani and Dr Jochen Sokoly in cooperation with Al Markhiya Gallery and the Arab Museum of Modern Art, Doha from September 9 to October10, 2009. A reception, open to the public, will be hosted on the opening day at 9pm at the Gallery in VCUQ.

The exhibition, curated by Dr Abdulla Al Thani, Vice President for Education at Qatar Foundation, and Dr Jochen Sokoly, Gallery Director and Assistant Professor in Art History at VCUQatar, is a tribute to contemporary Qatari artist Ali Hassan as he looks back at a career of over 25 years.

Featuring works from as early as the 1980s until the present, the exhibition looks at the development of his work, which over time has combined both calligraphic and figural forms, often abstracted. Perhaps the most prominent feature of Ali Hassan’s calligraphic work is his treatment of the letter “nun”. Ali Hassan’s general style is particularly characterised by the use of strong colours and a mix of materials and collage. However, in his most recent work he has embarked on the sculptural application of calligraphy in both ceramic and installation art.

Trained first as a calligrapher, Ali Hassan studied history at Qatar University. Today he is one of the most renowned and active contemporary artists in Qatar with a particular focus in art education. As the former chairman of the Youth Creative Art Centre and the Girls’ Creativity Art Centre in Doha, he plays a highly influential role in the shaping of new generations of students of visual arts. Ali Hassan’s work has been presented in numerous exhibitions in the Arab world, Europe and Asia and has been acquired internationally by both public and private collections.

The month-long exhibition will be open from Sundays to Thursdays, from 10am to 4pm, or by prior appointment.

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