Manal Al Dowayan, I am...a Petroleum Engineer

Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar - VCUQ Po Box 8095 Doha Qatar (city map) Send E-mail tel +974 - 492 72 45 www.qatar.vcu.edu

VCUQatar will host the exhibit Self Representation in the Arabian Gulf from Oct 24-Dec 1, 2007. A reception will be held on Wednesday October 24 at 7.30 pm.

This exhibition explores the themes of self-portraiture and identity in the Gulf region through lens-based media. The twelve participating artists live and work in the countries of Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Oman. The aim of this exhibition is to actively contribute to the contemporary arts dialogue developing in Qatar. It poses the question: How do people in this culture, defined by strongly held beliefs and traditions yet also by rapid development and increasing wealth, perceive themselves.

"Artists Self Representation in the Arabian Gulf contributes to the discussion of two important issues in the Gulf today, one is the still prevalent notion amongst traditional Arabian Gulf society of concealing ones personal identity in public and second of the finding of artistic identity in an environment that places a higher value on common rather than individual values." said Jochen Sokoly

"The purpose of this exhibition is to explore what self-portraiture, or self-representation created by artists living in the Arabian Gulf says, not just about the twelve individual artists exhibited, but about the societies as a whole. The exhibition itself is not meant to have a singular definitive message, but rather welcomes many opinions and viewpoints. It is exciting to contribute to the contemporary arts dialogue developing in Doha." added Natalie Bailey exhibition co-curator.

The exhibiting artists are Camille Zakharia, Tarek Al-Ghoussein, Anas Al-Shaikh, Ebtisam Abdul Aziz, Mohammed Kazem, Hassan Meer, Manal Al-Dowayan, Roqaya Al-Thani, Khalifa Al-Obaidly, Nuha Assad, Madeline McGehee, Loredana