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Claire Kyle, Director of Commercial Art and Design, CEO Office, discusses the gallery’s vision, support for emerging artists and plans to promote cultural exchange through art.
Interview conducted by Haroon Rashid Qureshi, Editor in Chief, Rahbar Kisan International, and Arooj Haroon, Head of Social Media, Rahbar Kisan International (RKI).
Claire Kyle, Director of Commercial Art and Design, CEO Office, and curator of MAHAD’s inaugural exhibition Rooted Elsewhere, has highlighted the gallery’s role in supporting emerging and mid-career artists and providing them with opportunities to showcase their creativity to wider audiences.
Introducing herself, Kyle explained that she also serves as the curator of MAHAD’s inaugural exhibition, which brings together artists from local, regional and international backgrounds.
She said the main purpose of MAHAD is to provide emerging and mid-career artists with a platform to present their work in a large exhibition space. She described Doha as a city with a strong interest in art, particularly following Art Basel Qatar, adding that MAHAD offers an opportunity to appreciate, discuss and celebrate artistic creativity.
Explaining the range of artistic work displayed at the gallery, Kyle said MAHAD does not focus exclusively on painting but celebrates different artistic mediums.
The exhibition includes photography by Qatari and Canadian artists, reflecting the Years of Culture between Canada, Mexico and Qatar. It also features textile art, mosaic work, painting, mixed media, oil on canvas and watercolour.
Among the participating artists is Indonesian-Canadian artist Tesar Lo, whose work combines mixed media and oil on canvas. Kyle said the gallery aims to provide space for all forms of artistic expression.
Discussing the gallery’s relationship with Art Basel, she explained that the two will share the exhibition space. Art Basel will occupy the gallery for one month each year, while MAHAD will remain open for the other 11 months to showcase emerging and mid-career artists.
She said the space would be handed over to Art Basel every year in January or early February.
Supporting Local Artists and Developing Creative Opportunities
Highlighting MAHAD’s commitment to local talent, Kyle said three Qatari artists had participated in the inaugural exhibition. She expressed enthusiasm about building a strong roster of local artists and providing emerging talents with opportunities to present their work.
She identified Ahmad Al-Bayani and Amna Al-Bakr among the participating Qatari artists and said the gallery was excited to work with them and support their artistic development.
Speaking about future activities, Kyle said MAHAD was planning a range of programmes for the coming year. These will include panel discussions and opportunities for visitors to meet artists and learn about their creative practices.
She also outlined plans for studio visits and educational activities covering different aspects of the art world, including artwork framing, art collecting and the importance of collecting art. Visitors will also have opportunities to learn about preserving photographs through proper archival methods.
Kyle said these activities would provide a wider learning experience for people interested in art and collecting.
She also expressed her appreciation to Doha’s local art community for welcoming her during her first year in the city. She said their support had been valuable and encouraging.
Cultural Diversity and Opportunities for Pakistani Artists
In a separate discussion with Arooj Haroon, Head of Social Media at Rahbar Kisan International, Kyle highlighted the cultural diversity reflected in Rooted Elsewhere.
She said the exhibition brings together Qatari and Canadian artists from different cultural backgrounds. Referring to her hometown of Toronto, she described it as a multicultural city where people from various communities contribute to the creative environment.
She cited Indonesian-Chinese-Canadian artist Tesar Lo, Filipino-Canadian artist Karl Mata Hippo and Scottish-Canadian artist Joanna Johnson as examples of the diverse backgrounds represented in the exhibition.
During the discussion, Arooj Haroon shared her interest in art and expressed her desire to represent the Pakistani community through her creative work. She explained that she works in both digital and hand-painted art, with a particular focus on mental health and her experiences of living in different countries, including Pakistan and Qatar.
She said she hoped to express her mixed cultural identity through artistic expression.
Welcoming her interest, Kyle encouraged her to get in touch and discuss possible opportunities to participate in MAHAD’s programmes. She said the gallery was designed to bring creative people from different backgrounds and artistic disciplines together.
Kyle explained that one of the gallery’s important aims was to encourage interaction, exchange of ideas and learning among people working in different creative fields. She gave the example of meeting professionals involved in lighting design and other artistic disciplines.
She added that such creative exchanges were exactly what she had hoped to encourage through the inaugural exhibition.
Concluding the discussion, Kyle said she would be travelling between Doha and Toronto for the coming period but remained available through WhatsApp for artists interested in contacting her about future opportunities.
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Interview conducted by Haroon Rashid Qureshi, Editor in Chief, Rahbar Kisan International, and Arooj Haroon, Head of Social Media, Rahbar Kisan International (RKI).
