The world has become a small village through the ability to access information and even reach destinations in the shortest span of time. This convenience has; however, made it challenging to distinguish cultures and preserve a unique identity. The concept of a home is very intimate, and the idea of it, even metaphorically, is tied to deep emotions inducing nostalgia, comfort and safety juxtaposed with displacement, loss, human relationships and personal growth. This exhibition delves into the notion of a home within the contemporary realm and raises questions about identity and belonging through the eyes of 17 artists who took part in the Artist in Residence programme at the Fire Station in the years 2023-2024.
Here, the artists share rich and diverse narratives and emotions centred around three main themes: environmental, social and cultural explorations. There is a direct link between one’s identity and the concept of urban identity as they revolve around a person’s relationship with their environment, space and its elements and the interaction between the components. On a deeper level, the environment also symbolises the social relationships and feelings that connect people to buildings, streets, and trees. A House Overlooking the World showcases artworks emanating from the artists’ constant search either within themselves or the environment and society around them, and is a metaphor reflecting on finding a sense of self in a fast-changing world.
Doha reflects fast development and diversity, and while its identity is shifting and changing, so is the identity of the people living in it. The sense of nostalgia and yearning for the past while witnessing and embracing the growth is predominant in everyone’s mind. On the one hand, we observe massive urban projects designed by star architects while also beholding efforts to preserve an old souq in the middle of the city. The participating artists are conscious of these changes, and their practices document their individual and collective feelings and the constant complexities in the domestic sphere, society and the world.
