This month, Alfardan Sports Motors, official Ferrari importer in Qatar, will transform its showroom, conventionally used to exclusively house the luxurious collections of newest release Ferrari models, into an art gallery of sorts.

Determined to prevail with excellence, Alfardan Sports Motors have reached out to connect with local artists to create a novel offering that supports the Arts and Culture community by providing a platform for local artists to be recognized and appreciated by Qatar’s elite fine art aficionados.

“It is important for us to connect with our community, to work together to bolster cultural awareness in Qatar and promote symbiotic relationships,” commented Charly Dagher, General Manager, Alfardan Sports Motors. “Although our industries are not necessarily in the same niche, clients of Ferrari typically share a fine taste for beautiful things.”

The driving force behind the Art Exhibition initiative was the success of the California T Launch Event with its artistic atmosphere featuring world renowned sand artist Kseniya Simonova, showing the voyage the Ferrari California T has made from Modena Italy to Hollywood California to Doha Qatar and accompanied by a breathtaking performance from Domino Blue.

“The Ferrari California T is a piece of art; elegant, sporty, exclusive and versatile. It resonates with our clients who are always looking for elegance, luxury and distinction,” added Charly Dagher.

The California model dates back to the late 1950s where it rooted its reputation as an elegant and exclusive spider; a historic icon in the Ferrari repertoire. The latest model, the California T, has revamped the traditional California model with a host of new solutions, including the fully retractable hard top, and is engineered for power and performance. It boasts an 8-cylinder turbo engine, perfected through meticulous design work and specialist manufacturing techniques, such as the flat-plane crankshaft and the three-piece cast exhaust manifold and turbo housing, for exhilarating sound that sends chills down your spine.

The Art exhibition will feature three unique artists, all of whom have a deep-rooted connection with Qatar.

Qatari Calligrapher, who is one of the first Qatari artists, Rashad Mubarak Al-Muhanadi, has spent part of his well-established career as the official calligrapher at the Emiri Diwan as well as accompanying the Prince on exhibition tours across the globe. He earned his stripes at the College of Fine Arts, Helwan University in Egypt in 1990, where soon after the Ministry of Education appointed him as an Art Education Teacher.

Rashad has consistently been involved in a number of cultural events, exhibitions and festivals throughout the Middle East, such as both the 7th and 8th exhibition of Qatari Society for Fine Arts and the first forum for Ktati GCC in Kuwait in 2013.

The next artist selected for this exhibition is the well-known, California born, Lisa Mounteer-Watson. Lisa majored in Fine Arts in Santa Barbara in 1980 and has lived abroad for more than two decades. Lisa’s passion for painting was reignited during her tenure in Abu Dhabi and Qatar.

Lisa’s work is a familiar presence in some of the Middle East’s top hotels, including Yas Hotel, Abu Dhabi, The Ritz Carlton, Doha, The InterCon City Hotel, Doha and the Emirates Palace hotel, Abu Dhabi. Apart from hotels, Lisa has been commissioned, alongside interior designers, to create pieces for private residences.

Her work is typically abstract oil painting on canvas that represents the notion of the inner conscience that directs and guides us along the paths we choose, undetected by our conscious selves. She describes her method of painting as “allowing]the paint to flow where I hadn't intended it to, so that the canvas begins to take on a life of its own. It is as though communication is taking place between artist and canvas, allowing figures, features and spaces to emerge from the unspoken dialogue."

Qatar residents and visitors may have already, unknowingly, seen her work, such as her piece titled Doha Sandstorm at The Ritz Carlton as well as The Call to Prayer at the InterCon City, and more subtly in the logo she designed, at the request of NY Times Magazine, for the NY Times T Qatar Magazine.

The third and final artist on display is award-winning artist Ahmed Allawi Haade, with a collection of his ceramic works. Ahmed has long been involved in the arts and culture scene in Doha. As a resident to Doha since 1999, originally from Baghdad, Ahmed has assisted on numerous projects throughout the region, including a collection of murals around the city, such as the Qatar Equestrian Club. He is especially known for murals of ceramic photographs of the Emir of Qatar and Heir Apparent.

He held the title of the Director of the Old Art Gallery of works of art on the Doha Corniche Posts as well as the Old Art Director (Just Art) for the implementation of works of art in Qatar. He is a proud member of the Syndicate of Iraqi Artists and the Association of Fine Iraqis

To open this one of a kind exhibition, The Alfardan Sports Motors team hosted a launch evening, for media and the public on the 29th November, 2014 from 7-9pm. Guests experienced a culturally rich evening, buzzing with creative energy, with a special meet and greet session with the artists, while enjoying a selection of delicious canapés and beverages.

The exhibition will continue for two weeks with art works available for purchase. Entrance is Free.

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