Wafika Al-Essa Hassan Al-Mulla
Wafika Sultan Al-Essa & Hassan Al-Mulla: Neighbours of the Sea
28.07.2024
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Neighbours of the Sea, an ongoing exhibition at Fire Station in Doha (Qatar), allows one to see works by Wafika Sultan Al-Essa and Hassan Al-Mulla, who are among the pioneers of fine art in Qatar. Although these two Qatari artists are different from each other when it comes to their methods of expression and art style, the show serves as a convergence where local environment and culture constitute a common inspiration for both of them. On view in Gallery 4, the exhibition will run through the 17th of August, 2024.

Living amidst both desert and sea has profoundly shaped Qatari society, influencing aspects of life, culture, urbanism, and heritage. Over 30 mixed-media paintings showcased in the exhibition reflect how this resonates through the artistic expressions of Al-Essa and Al-Mulla, who are part of Qatar’s society, its culture, and its land. Some of the displayed works were created by the artists during their residency at the Fire Station Ruwad in Residence (2021-2023), a special programme supporting Qatar-based established creatives.

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Wafika Sultan Al-Essa & Hassan Al-Mulla, Neighbours of the Sea (installation view). Fire Station, Doha, Qatar, 2024. Photo: Joey Aguilar.

About the artists

Wafika Sultan Al-Essa (b. 1952, Bahrain), who earned a BFA in Applied Arts from Cairo University (Egypt) in 1974, is one of the first Qatari women to professionally pursue art. A founding member of the Qatar Fine Arts Association, she has also worked in Qatar TV’s production department as an interior designer and a production supervisor.

Al-Essa, who specialises in painting and plastic arts, infuses her works with meticulous detail, taking cues from Qatari folklore, nature, history, proverbs, and songs. Her compositions often feature women in groups and everyday life, portrayed with a progressive perspective.

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One of Wafika Sultan Al-Essa’s paintings. Acrylic on canvas. 60 x 50 cm

The artist has showcased her creations in many local and international exhibitions, which include I Have Stories (Al Housh Gallery, Doha, 2020); Lum’a Al Nozah (Al Markhiya Gallery, Souq Waqif, Doha, 2013); an exhibition at UNESCO Palace (Beirut, Lebanon, 2009); a solo show in Washington D.C. (USA, 2003); and Exhibition of Gulf Artists (Baghdad, Iraq, 1982), to name a few. In 2014, Al-Essa received the Arab’s Woman Award for the best Qatari artist.

Hassan Al-Mulla (b. 1951, Doha) studied at the University of Baghdad’s College of Fine Arts, from which he graduated with a BFA in 1975, specialising in oil painting. In 1980, he was one of the founding members of the Qatari Fine Arts Society and served as its second president. In addition, Al-Mulla is a former director of the Department of Culture and Arts.

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Wafika Sultan Al-Essa & Hassan Al-Mulla, Neighbours of the Sea (installation view). Fire Station, Doha, Qatar, 2024. Photo: Joey Aguilar.

Al-Mulla’s paintings, which tend to be abstract, often draw from his childhood memories, traditional Qatari activities, and the natural landscape, incorporating Arabic calligraphy and geometric forms. His solo exhibitions, starting from 1988, and participation in collective exhibitions such as those at Katara Cultural Village (Doha, 2022) and Mathaf (Doha, 2020) underscore his influential presence in Qatar’s art community.

To get more information about Neighbours of the Sea, please visit the official web page of the exhibition.

Additionally, you might be interested in visiting Reflections & Inspirations from Emirati Heritage, an exhibition on display at the Sharjah Heritage Museum.