DOHA.- The Fire Station: Artist in Residence opened The Present: The Future of the Past, a unique exhibition showcasing the practices of 31 talented alumni of Qatar Museums’ Artist-in-Residence (AIR) programme. The exhibition will remain on view until at the Fire Station's Garage Gallery, Gallery 3, and Gallery 4.

The Present: The Future of the Past, comprises artworks created during residencies for the years 2021-2022 (AIR 6) and 2022-2023 (AIR 7). It offers visitors a glimpse into inner workings of artists' studios and artists' unique processes, from concept to realization, resulting in provocative artworks in varied media. The Fire Station's AIR programme is a nine-month residency for artists across all disciplines in Qatar, empowering them to nurture and grow their talents through production support, curatorial guidance, and expert mentorships. Artists are provided with well-equipped studio spaces and unrestricted access to the building's facilities, which include a fabrication lab, woodshop, and exhibition spaces. Upon completing their residency, artists are given the opportunity to showcase their transformative artworks in a public exhibition at Fire Station.

Khalifa Ahmad Al Obaidli, Director of Fire Station, commented, "The Present: The Future of the Past exhibition truly embodies the essence of our Artist in Residence programme at the Fire Station. Our residency program plays a vital role in supporting Qatar's art scene, fostering local talent, and cultivating a thriving creative community. As an integral component of Qatar Museums’ Creative Hubs, we actively contribute to the vision of creating a strong and sustainable cultural infrastructure, which is instrumental in shaping the future of art in our nation. We invite everyone to join us at Fire Station to explore the captivating works of these artists."

Saida Al-Khulaifi, Exhibition Curator of the Fire Station, added: “This exhibition embraces the power and potential of the artistic process. From what is often a seemingly simple beginning, a concept can undergo a wondrous transformation, from an intangible thought to a concrete visual or audio presentation that can connect profoundly with the viewer. During their tenure from September to June, artists had the invaluable opportunity to explore this phenomenon and wholeheartedly embrace its transformative power. The exhibited artworks represent diverse experiences, nurtured through numerous stages, and lovingly embraced within the artist's studio—a realm teeming with imagination, often defying the constraints of physics and reality.”

The artists featured in this exhibition are: Abdulaziz Yousef, Abdulrahman Almuftah, Arman Mansouri, Aya Battiri, Charlene Kasdorf, Fatima Javed, Hind Alobaidli, Lucy Martin, Noor Alkharaan, N&LS, Sharefa Al Mannai, Simon Mortimer, Yousef Fakhroo, Amna Almuftah, Abdulrahman Al-Thani, Voyyyd, Abir Zakzouk, Ali Al-Naama, Farah Al Sidiky, Fatima Al-Yousef, Hazim Hussain, Hemanth Madupu, Johnatan Machado, Mohammed Abdullah Alhamadi, Luke Webb, Maha Al-Sulaiti, Noof Al-Theyab, Noor Al-Kuwari, Sarah Jayyousi, Sheikha Al-Khulaifi, and Wadha Al-Mesalam.

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: Artist in Residence
The Present: The Future of the Past
August 30th, 2023 - December 16th, 2023