Qatar National Library, in partnership with Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art and in celebration of the Qatar-MENASA Year of Culture 2022, has opened a new art exhibition to pay tribute to the self-taught Algerian artist, Baya Mahieddine.
The exhibition, titled “Baya Mahieddine: An Exploration of Color and Nature,” celebrates her decades-long career and provides a window into her fascinating life from the 1940s till the late 1990s. It showcases a selection of eighteen paintings that are intertwined with Baya’s lifelong themes, revealing the fictional and nonfictional elements that resonated throughout her various works. The examples of Baya’s works on display at the exhibition, which runs until March 2023, were drawn from the Library, Mathaf, Qatar Museums and private collections in Qatar.
The Library held a media tour which was attended by His Excellency Dr. Hamad Bin Abdulaziz Al-Kawari, Minister of State and President of Qatar National Library and His Excellency Mustafa Boutoura, Ambassador of Algeria to Qatar.
Commenting on the occasion, Dr. Al-Kawari said: “Baya has carved a prominent place for herself in the field of modern art and has become one of the most important artists in Algeria, the Arab world, and even globally. The exhibition aims to celebrate her life and career and comes as part of the Library’s mission to continue to spearhead initiatives and host artistic events that position Qatar as a global cultural hub and a guardian of the region’s heritage.”
“We thank Mathaf, Qatar Museums and private collectors in Qatar for their support with this exhibition and for helping to share the unique story of Baya with visitors,” he added.
Zeina Arida, Director of Mathaf, commented: “We are pleased to collaborate with Qatar National Library on this exhibition that aims to share with the audience the work of Baya, an important Algerian artist who is part of Mathaf’s collection. Mathaf is a modern art hub in Qatar where visitors can interact and experiment with new art forms from modern and contemporary artists. This exhibition is part of Mathaf's mission to increase awareness and understanding of the important work of artists in the Arab world.”
Considered to be one of the most important Algerian artists of her time, Baya’s career spanned nearly six decades and was marked by the post-World War II period, the Algerian War of Independence, and the Algerian Civil War. Baya took her inspiration primarily from her homeland, where she died in 1998. The dreamlike quality of her work, rich in symbols and ornamentation, was clearly influenced by her Algerian cultural heritage. Orphaned at the age of five, Baya was drawn to art as an adolescent by observing her surroundings, a mix of Arab and Berber cultures. Baya was highly valued by many of the leading figures of the Parisian avant-garde movement, such as Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, and the famous surrealist, André Breton.
Celebrated in Algeria, France, and the Middle East, Baya gained international recognition with the first North American exhibition organized by the Grey Art Gallery at New York University in 2018.
The Library’s exhibition marks another milestone in the Library’s journey to promote cultural dialogue and understanding between nations through the Qatar-MENASA Year of Culture 2022 initiative.
The Library will continue to host a variety of fun and engaging events online and in person throughout December. For a complete list of events, please visit the Events page on the Library’s website (www.qnl.qa/en/events).
About Qatar National Library
Qatar National Library acts as a steward of Qatar’s national heritage by collecting, preserving, and making available the country’s recorded history. The Library provides equal access to all types of information and services and aims to enable the people of Qatar to positively influence society by creating an exceptional learning and discovery environment.
His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Amir of Qatar, officially inaugurated Qatar National Library on 16 April 2018. The Library was granted the status of national library under the Amiri Decree No.11 of 20 March 2018.
Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art
Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art serves as the Arab world's leading modern and contemporary art museum. The Museum offers a welcoming, vibrant environment that invites evolving discussions about modern art in the region and beyond. Home to a permanent collection that offers a distinctively unique comprehensive overview of modern and contemporary art from North Africa and the Middle East, Mathaf ("museum" in Arabic) also performs a vital role as a center for dialogue and scholarship and a resource for fostering creativity.
Founded in 2010, Mathaf is situated in a renovated former school building in Education City, established by Qatar Foundation under the leadership of Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser. Mathaf is part of Qatar Museums, led by Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.
Mathaf’s collection, which is co-owned by Qatar Museums and Qatar Foundation, comprises more than 9,000 artworks, making it the world’s largest specialized collection of its kind. An initial group of works was gathered by His Excellency Sheikh Hassan bin Mohammed bin Ali Al Thani.