The Qatari pavilion at the Gwangju Biennale 2024 in South Korea highlights a selection of contemporary Qatari artists and those from the Gulf region, aiming to illustrate the diversity and richness of local cultures while addressing global themes. This participation is part of Qatar's initiatives to promote Middle Eastern art and culture on the international stage.
The works presented explore various subjects such as identity, migration, and the impact of climate change on local communities, resonating with contemporary global issues. The artists use innovative techniques to interact with the audience, blending technology with traditional art, offering an immersive experience. The pavilion aims to encourage intercultural dialogue by linking local concerns to global inquiries, positioning art as a privileged medium for collective reflection.
The exhibition "Knock, Rain, Knock" is divided into four chapters and presents artworks by seven Qatari artists. The first chapter showcases the Qatari landscape through works by Fatima Abbas and Farah Al Sidiky.
Abbas’s "Glimpse of Rain" recounts the Qatari climate and its challenges, painting a portrait of the country’s lands. Al Sidiky’s video installation "Place of Abandon" bears witness to this, reflecting on human interactions and the desert over time, and the potential these places hold for humanity’s future.
The second chapter, "Pray," focuses on "Salat al-Istisqaa," and features works by Sara Al Naimi and Hind Al Saad. Al Naimi's triptych depicts the journey and life of the Arab people before the Salat al-Istisqaa, through a Nabati poem by Mohsen bin Othman Al Hazani. Alongside it is Al Saad's kinetic installation, which revolves around one of the prayer’s verses, using light and water effects.
Guillaume Rouseré's immersive installation "After the Rain" belongs to the third chapter, "Receive," and reveals the interaction between humanity and nature, exploring the importance of water in Qatar.
In the final chapter, "Supporter," Abdulrahman Al Muftah and Nada Elkharashi analyze the aftermath of rain. Al Muftah's "Rain on Materiality" examines the effect of rain on Qatar's urban environment, while Elkharashi’s oasis "Al-Faga’a" celebrates the delicate balance between human intervention and nature.