Walking Through Cloudy Days by Saida AlBader
Doha, Qatar: Fire Station has announced the opening of “The Voyager is the Narrator II,” an exhibition featuring works by artists who participated in the Fire Station’s New York and Paris Residency programmes in 2024. The exhibition will be on view at the Fire Station, Gallery 4 and will run until March 25, 2025.
The exhibition presents works by Saida Al Bader, Muneera Al Buainian, and Fouz Saif from the New York Residency at the International Studio and Curatorial Program (ISCP), alongside Ghada Al Kuwari and Sheikha Al Khulaifi from the Paris Residency at Cité Internationale des Arts. Through their artwork, each artist narrates their unique experience of living and creating in two of the world’s most culturally and geographically diverse cities.
Khalifa Al Obaidly, Director of Fire Station, commented, “The Voyager is the Narrator II represents a significant milestone in our commitment to nurturing Qatar’s artistic talent on an international scale. Through these residencies, our artists have immersed themselves in the rich cultural landscapes of New York and Paris, returning with fresh perspectives and enhanced creative practices. This exhibition not only showcases their artistic growth but also demonstrates the success of our international residency programmes in fostering cultural exchange and artistic development.”
The exhibition conveys the experience and emotions of travelling through the artists’ perspectives, highlighting how each journey begins with anticipation and develops through exploration and learning. Both New York and Paris have left indelible marks on the artists’ work, from the striking reflections on New York’s skyscrapers to the charming stone buildings and balconies of Paris. The artists drew inspiration from the cities’ architecture, parks, museums, libraries, and historical monuments, as well as their vibrant social fabric and diverse cultural scenes.
The International Studio & Curatorial Program (ISCP) supports the creative development of artists and curators, and promotes exchange through residencies and public programmes. Housed in a former factory in Brooklyn, with 35 light-filled work studios, two galleries, and a project space, ISCP is New York’s most comprehensive international visual arts residency programme, founded in 1994. The Cité des Arts is also one of the most dynamic international residency programs, and the residents are able to interact and network with artists from all over the world, as well as the public and other professionals in an open studio event during their residency.
Saida Al Khulaifi, Head of the Residency Programme, added, “This exhibition captures the transformative power of artistic residencies and cultural immersion. Each artist has translated their unique encounters and experiences into compelling works that reflect both personal growth and artistic evolution. The diversity of perspectives and artistic approaches showcased in this exhibition speaks to the richness of these international experiences and their lasting impact on our artists’ creative journeys.”
The exhibition will be open to the public from Saturday to Thursday, 9am to 7pm, and Friday from 1:30pm to 7pm.
