AS A WONDERFUL exhibition of mixed media pictures and a notable participation of the Embassy of Bosnia-Herzegovina in the celebrations marking Qatar’s National Day, the کSpirit of the Desert’ is a show by Bosnian artist Sanita Lisica, who also serves as the First Secretary and Deputy Head of Mission of Bosnia-Herzegovina in Qatar.
The event was inaugurated by the Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage HE Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz al Kuwari and the Ambassador of Bosnia-Herzegovina in Qatar, HE Tariq Sadovic, with the attendance of the artist, ambassadors and invited guests.
Speaking to mediapersons at the event, Kuwari said,”I consider this to be a significant participation by the diplomatic corps in celebrating our National Day. As for the works on display, they are beautiful, and serve to synthesize East and West by utilising sand from the region in the actual art works.”
The exhibition of 22 mixed media works which combine paints and sand from Qatar and other parts of the GCC region depicts a wide variety of subjects including landmarks in Qatar, images from folk culture such as old villages, and Quranic verses.
Discussing the context of the exhibition, which is intended to celebrate Qatar’s National Day, Lisica told Qatar Tribune that”this show is one of the events organised to mark the National Day. I consider this a great honour for me personally, to participate in these festivities in what is, as far as I know, the first official participation by Bosnia-Herzegovina in these important celebrations”.
About her art work, the artist said,”The works are basically drawn with sand which is taken from Qatar and the Gulf region in general, as well as oil paints. The exhibition speaks of the future as well as the past in Qatar, and most of my works take as their subject matter places and landmarks in Qatar of today, or that of yesteryear.”
Lisica, who speaks Arabic fluently, recounted that she developed a fondness for the sand and the desert during her studies in University. She studied the Mu’allaqat, a group of seven long Arabic poems the earliest of which dates to the 6th century AD.
Offering her best wishes on the occasion of Qatar National Day, Lisica said,”I thank the State of Qatar for offering me the opportunity to participate in the National Day celebrations, and on this occasion I send out greetings to the government and the people of Qatar.”