diverse interests

cai guo-qiang: saraab at mathaf arab museum of modern art, qatar
the mathaf: arab museum of modern art presents ‘saraab’ (meaning ‘mirage’ in arabic), the first solo exhibition of chinese artist
cai guo-qiang in the middle east. curated by wassan al-khudhairi, the show features 17 newly commissioned pieces,
highlighting the little known connection between the asian and middle eastern cultures which date back to the ancient silk road.
cai explores historical iconography from both regions presented on paper, canvas and porcelain works.
the new works are exhibited on the ground floor galleries. the pieces echo botanical patterns seen in islamic decorative art
and manuscripts, reflecting on the ancient icons and traditions. gunpowder drawings provide a sense of tension between
destruction and creation, an idea that carries significance for both cultures. a documentary about the making of the commissioned
works, including process videos of the sketches and renderings accompanies the show and keeps with the museums focus
on education and broader contextualization.
for ‘endless’, two qatari houri boats and a traditional chinese fishing boat, transported from quanzhou, were placed
on gently rocking water. the room is enveloped in fog, creating the sense of distance, as it simultaneously suggests both travel and rest.