Today, the Fire Station opened an exhibition titled “Birthday Ceremony”, by Qatari Artist and former Fire Station resident Hana Al-Saadi which is on display at Gallery 3 at Fire Station and will run until 4 March 2023.
The exhibition, housed in the Fire Station, focuses on Hana Al-Saadi’s reflection of a home, and her experience during her childhood, adolescence and throughout her development, exploring the subjects of memory and traditions. She depicts privacy through material that is domestic in nature, using paradox as the main medium, while her works tend to be playful and exhibit a dark sense of humor.
Commenting on the exhibition, Khalifa Ahmad Al Obaidly, Director of Fire Station said: “The Fire Station provides a key platform for regional and local artists to present their work and engage with people. We are excited to introduce the work of Hana Al-Saadi, a talented up-and-coming Qatari artist whose art explores childhood and adolescence from several angles. We look forward to welcoming the public to enjoy the exhibition.”
Hana Al-Saadi was a resident at the Fire Station, a world-class artist nine-month residency programme designed to nurture, energise and promote Qatar’s artistic and creative community. She was also a resident in New York City at Studio 209 NY.
Al-Saadi holds an MFA in Sculpture from Rhode Island School of Design and received her BFA in Painting and Printmaking from VCUarts Qatar. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, including Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, the Fire Station, International Studio & Curatorial Program (NYC), Cosmoscow (Moscow), Saatchi Gallery (London), among others.
Birthday Ceremony is on view until 04 March 2023 at Gallery 3, Fire Station. For more information, please visit https://www.firestation.org.qa/.
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About Doha Fire Station
The Fire Station is a world-class artist residency programme for residents of Qatar designed to nurture, energize and promote the country’s artistic and creative community, as well as enrich the art scene in Qatar Founded in 2015 and located in a fire station that was repurposed by Qatari architect Ibrahim Mohamed Jaidah, the nine-month programme for creatives across all disciplines enables young artists to cultivate their talent through production support, curatorial advice, and expert mentorships. During the residency, artists engage with professionals from all over the world who recognise Qatar as a growing centre of artistic talent and creativity. The Fire Station includes extensive studio spaces, a theatre, a café, and gallery spaces presenting inspiring local and international exhibitions. Over the past six years, the programme has welcomed 92 artists and expanded its duration to include a three-month stint at the prestigious Cite Internationale des Art in Paris and in New York City at Studio 209 NY, which is part of the International Studio & Curatorial Program (ISCP). The Fire Station campus also includes the popular restaurant Café #999, a bookshop, art supply shop, cinema and artist facilities.
The Fire Station has also hosted world class exhibitions organized by Qatar Museums within its expansive Garage Gallery, including Picassos Studios (2020), KAWS: He Eats Alone (2019) curated by renown art historian Germano Celant, Kazimir Malevich: Genius of the Russian Avant-garde (2019), Russian Avant-garde Pioneers and Direct Descendants (2018), Laundromat by Ai Weiwei (2018), German Encounters – Contemporary Masterworks from the Deutsche Bank Collection (2017), and Picasso-Giacometti (2017). The Fire Station is headed by Director Khalifa Ahmad Al Obaidly, the renowned Qatari photographer.
About Qatar Museums
Qatar Museums (QM), the nation's preeminent institution for art and culture, provides authentic and inspiring cultural experiences through a growing network of museums, heritage sites, festivals, public art installations, and programmes. QM preserves, restores, and expands the nation's cultural offerings and historical sites, sharing art and culture from Qatar, the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia (MENASA) region with the world and enriching the lives of citizens, residents, and visitors.
Under the patronage of His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and led by its Chairperson, Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, QM has made Qatar a vibrant center for the arts, culture, and education in the Middle East and beyond. QM is integral to the goal of developing an innovative, diverse, and progressive nation, bringing people together to ignite new thinking, spark critical cultural conversations, educate and encourage environmental stewardship and sustainable practices, and amplify the voices of Qatar's people. Since its founding in 2005, QM has overseen the Museum of Islamic Art and MIA Park, Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, the National Museum of Qatar, QM Gallery Al Riwaq, QM Gallery Katara, 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, and Dadu, Children's Museum of Qatar.
Through its newly created Creative Hub, QM also initiates and supports projects—such as the Fire Station Artist in Residence, the Tasweer Qatar Photo Festival and the creative hub for innovation, fashion and design M7—that nurture artistic talent and create opportunities to build a strong and sustainable cultural infrastructure.
Animating everything that Qatar Museums does is an authentic connection to Qatar and its heritage, a steadfast commitment to inclusivity and accessibility, and a belief in creating value through invention.
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Qatar Museums
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Doha Fire Station
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