HE Sheikha Al Mayassa Opens Japanese Artist's Exhibition

Doha, February 08 (QNA) -HE Sheikha Mayassa bint Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Chairperson of the Qatar Museums Authority (QMA) Board of Trustees, inaugurated on Wednesday evening at Al-Ruwaq Hall beside the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) Japanese artist Takashi Murakami s first solo exhibition in the Middle East. The exhibition is to run from Feb.8th through June 24th. HE Sheikha Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani, asserted in her opening address the due keenness of the QMA to boot dialogue and cultural exchange via the aforesaid exhibition which falls within the framework of Qatar's celebration of the 40th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Qatar and Japan. The chairperson of QMA Board of Trustees said that the exhibition of artist Murakami who is considered one of the most important contemporary Japanese artists, is regarded the first ever fair in the middle east region. Known for mixing high and low culture, he produces work in an array of forms from paintings, videos and performance to factory-produced clothing and toys. He has worked with Louis Vuitton for a number of years creating brightly-coloured prints for a line of their handbags. In her opening address, the Chairperson of the Qatar Museums Authority (QMA) Board of Trustees, pointed out that "Murakami - Self" includes more than seventy works of art from 1997 to 2012, and included works inspired from leading international institutions and private collections as well as several new works of art designed specifically for this exhibition. HE Sheikha Mayassa highlighted that the exhibition aims at building bridges of amity among the various cultures and peoples and encourage dialogue between the artists. The Takashi Murakami s exhibition is the end of a tripartite series of artistic exhibitions for the famous japanese artist, the first of which was held in los angelos and the second is Versailles exhibition, which ran until December 14, 2011 and featured 22 of his kitsch sculptures including a 23ft frog and a 5 metre oval gold Buddha . It is to be noted that HE Sheikha Mayassa bint Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, the President of the Qatar Museums Authority (QMA), Board of Trustees, flanked by prominent personalities from Qatar and France, opened an exhibition by famous Japanese artist Takashi Murakami at the Palace Versailles in Paris in September ,2010. The Qatari delegation to the Paris exhibition led by HE Sheikha Mayassa also comprised HE Sheikh Abdul Rahman bin Saud Al Thani, HE Minister of Culture, Art and Heritage HE Dr.Hamad bin Abdul Aziz Al Kuwari, QMA vice president Sheikh Hassan Al Thani and the Qatari ambassador to France HE Mohammed Jeham Al Kuwari. French Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand, Former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, Bernadette Chirac, wife of former French President Jacques Chirac were also present on the occasion, among other dignitaries. Qatar Museums Authority, has confirmed that Takashi Murakami s first solo exhibition is a breakthrough for the activities of Qatar- Japan 2012, which celebrates 40 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries, noting that the activities undertaken include several areas of cooperation, including culture, sports, business and commerce and to promote cultural understanding between the two countries. It is worth mentioning that Qatar Museums Authority (QMA) is an organisation overseeing the ambitious cultural initiatives in Qatar.(QNA)