DOHA: The largest solo exhibition by Lebanese-American visual artist, poet, playwright and essayist Etel Adnan opened yesterday at Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art.
‘Etel Adnan In All Her Dimensions’ was opened by Qatar Museum Authority (QMA) Vice-Chairman Sheikh Hassan bin Mohamed Al Thani.
Similar to nature consisting of many dimensions, Adnan’s artistic and literary oeuvre contains many aspects. Through the exploration of her multidimensionality, the exhibition highlights the diversity in her work, showing connections in different fields in which she is active.
Highlighting the importance of the exhibition, H E Sheikha Al Mayassa Al Thani said; “Etel Adnan is one of the most important figures of artistic and literary modernity in the Arab world. The exhibition offers a major opportunity to learn more on her oeuvre and encounter it firsthand for the audience in Qatar and the world.”
Providing an extensive overview, the display includes Adnan’s paintings, drawings, leporellos, tapestries, writings and films since 1960s and aims to provide the audience with a deeper understanding of her oeuvre.
“Adnan proposes art as a way to immerse oneself in worlds of colour and imagination, world of beauty captured from the environment in which we live.
“The 11 dimensions that constitute the body of the exhibition bear witness to the collection of concepts, materials, times, and relationships,” said Mathaf Director Abdellah Karroum.
A fully illustrated bilingual Arabic-English catalogue designed by Ala Younis was released by Mathaf and Skira publishing. It contains interviews by curator Hans Ulrich Obrist, writings by the artist, and essays by contributors, providing insights into Adnan’s art, writings and thinking.
Curated by Obrist, the expo is open for public viewing from tomorrow until July 6.
The Peninsula
