More than 40 paintings on Qatar created by 22 artists from 14 countries at the recent Al Asmakh International Symposium on Fine Art 2013 will soon adorn the walls of Wyndham Grand Regency Doha as the hotel’s initial step to be an art hub. “We are going to display all these paintings in the hotel because we are aiming to divert our identity into arts and culture,” Ayman Lotfy, General Manager, Wyndham Grand Regency Doha, tThe subjects, techniques and media used in the paintings were varied yet the theme was centred on Qatar, making an impressive collection that would delight every guest to the hotel. “The paintings are very powerful because they were created by artists who are experienced and renowned. People who are into arts, who have seen the paintings were all amazed by them,” said Lotfy, adding they are planning to do another edition next year. During the week-long symposium, the artists stayed in a camp at Sealine beach where they each created two paintings inspired by Qatar and its culture. “At the beginning it was difficult for us because it’s far away and we stayed in a tent but we loved it, we stayed as a family as we did the paintings,” said Lebanese painter Majd Ramadan, lauding the organisers of the unique event. Ramadan, who has been recognised many times as a classical, surrealist and impressionist artist came up with paintings inspired by the national dress worn by women in Qatar and pearl and petrol — the country’s most precious resources. Dutch contemporary artist Marjolin Stolk said she would cherish the wonderful experience being with artists from all corners of the world, “working together and sharing ideas and thoughts.” Stolk, who has been based in Qatar for three and a half years, has always been fascinated by the wealth and diversity of the Arabian heritage. “Qatar has inspired me creating works based on what I see around me. I always have a camera with me to take pictures of the things I see and later use them as basis of my paintings,” she explained. For the symposium, she painted domes using acrylic paint combined with mixed media in vivid colours. “I’m really fascinated by the domes because they possess a magical quality,” she said. The artists came from Egypt, Lebanon, Sudan, Sweden, Syria, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Netherlands, India, Russia, Bangladesh and Morocco. Under the motto of “Hand in Hand for One Art and One Destiny,” the symposium offered a diverse line-up of events for the artists including a series of lectures, workshops and museum visits. The exhibition was opened by Mubarak bin Nasser Al Khalifa, Secretary General of the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage along with Hassan Al Asmakh, Vice President/Business Development of Regency Group Holding. Source : Qatar Chronicle

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