Page 143 - home and garden

BESPOKE | PROMOTION

RISING TALENT meanwhile, has created three beautifully
At a cutting-edge grass-roots level, too, sculpted giant oryx, the national animal
Qatar is making the international art of Qatar, outside the St Regis Doha.
world sit up and take notice. The country
promotes artistic expression among the SUN, SAND
young and unknown. The Fire Station in
Doha is an association of art institutions AND CULTURE
committed to helping the country foster Perhaps the best thing about Qatar’s
its talent and produce top-quality status as a top art and cultural destination
cultural and heritage experiences. It is the fact it offers so much more besides:
runs a nine-month Artist-in-Residence year-round sunshine, a thriving and
programme, which mentors numerous welcoming capital city, stunning beaches
promising young artists, providing them along its Persian Gulf shoreline, thrilling
with studio space and introductions to the desert adventures and falconry, luxury
city’s influential artists and curators. hotels, diverse shopping in gleaming new
This enthusiasm for young talent is malls or traditional souks, world-class
also reflected in Doha’s extraordinary sports and a fascinating culture that is
street art. The sculptures and paintings both timeless and modern
range from a vast bronze sculpture by the
Iraqi artist Ahmed Al Bahrani depicting British Airways Holidays offers three
towering hands and arms emerging from nights at the four-star Ramada Encore
the ground, to the striking wall art – or Doha from £599pp, including flights, for
‘calligraffiti’ – by eL Seed, the French- selected departures April–May, 2016. To
Tunisian artist, who blends classical book, visit ba.com. For more information,
Islamic calligraphy with freewheeling visit the Qatar Tourism Authority website
Western street graffiti. Ellen Hlavata, at qatartourism.gov.qa