CHAIRMAN: DR. KHALID BIN THANI AL THANI
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: DR. KHALID MUBARAK AL-SHAFI

Qatar

‘Conceptual Architecture’ opens at Katara

Published: 05 Jan 2018 - 12:49 am | Last Updated: 01 Nov 2021 - 04:36 pm
Officials at the exhibition, which is open to the public at Katara Building 22 until January 14.

Officials at the exhibition, which is open to the public at Katara Building 22 until January 14.

By Raynald C Rivera / The Peninsula

DOHA: A tower inspired by snowflakes slowly descending and a skyscraper patterned after a pollen grain surface are some of the amazing pieces on display at the ‘Conceptual Architecture Inspired by Nature and its Phenomena’ exhibition which opened at Katara on Tuesday.
The exhibition features 10 sculptures, 11 sculptural paintings and a series of photographs of architectural designs created by artist and architect Mohammed Muhannad Barakat. It reveals the endless possibilities how nature can be integrated in the built environment and how artistic interpretation of nature can result in outstanding art pieces that are simple and complex at the same time.
“Nature is a mixture of exquisite geometrical forms created by God in a very complex way, although as human beings, we tend to view them from a simpler and more straightforward perspective,” said Barakat.
While the works assume various lines and shapes of nature, majority of them have been executed in monochrome. “The use of different colours cannot do justice to the meandering and bending shapes of nature, so I decided to use black and white instead,” explained Barakat.
On the impact of nature on engineering, he pointed out that “everything we see around us stays inside us, directly or indirectly,” an interpretation that is reflected in his works.
“Katara is keen to provide an outstanding platform both for artists and those passionate about art. This exhibit draws our attention to both the subtle and direct influences that nature has on architecture and engineering,” said Dr. Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti, who inaugurated the exhibition,
He added: “Katara is working to provide its audience with various artistic experiences in order to open them up to innovative ways of creativity. I invite the public to visit this exhibition, which guarantees to give the visitor a unique artistic experience.”
Barakat is a Qatar-based Syrian artist and architect who graduated from Damascus University in 2008, with a degree in Fine Arts in Interior Architecture. Coming from a family of seven architects, the artist said he was mainly influenced by his family and some of the world’s top designers.
His work is characterised by a style that veers off from the familiar, relying instead on the complexity of natural forms to inspire his designs and interpretations.
His creations are both aesthetically appealing yet functional, and can be adopted across the areas of engineering, interior design, architectural or public infrastructure design.
The exhibition is open to the public at Katara Building 22 until January 14.