Meet the trailblazing women in Qatar’s creative industries, from art and design, to fashion and film

euronews (in English)

Qatar 365 celebrates Women’s History Month, spotlighting female creatives in Qatar that are pushing the boundaries in visual arts, cinematography, and fashion.

Transcript

00:00We've seen amazing examples of female filmmakers who are trailblazing and doing this and becoming

00:07an example for other female filmmakers.

00:10Sustainability is not about just being vegan or wearing natural clothes, it's also about

00:15equity.

00:17Hello, welcome to Qatar 365 with me, Adil Haleem.

00:24On this episode, we continue to shine a light on women who are making waves in the creative

00:28world, whether it's visual arts, cinematography or fashion.

00:33But first, we're here at the Doha Fire Station where Laila Humaira met two artists with a

00:37unique take on art and design.

00:42What looks like fallen, wilted bougainvillea petals is Nada El-Kharashi's newest subject

00:48of art exploration.

00:51Instead of letting piles and piles be blown away, she collected them and brought them

00:56back to her studio at the Doha Fire Station.

00:58And it's so vibrant and it's not dead, you know, like it does not look dead to me.

01:04Let me take it and see what I can do with it.

01:06And I think that's how it started.

01:07How can I use this material to create something else?

01:13Inventing new things, that's the motto that led Nada to take the wilting pink petals and

01:18blend them in water to make paper.

01:21I'm creating something but I don't know how it will end.

01:24I'm saying it could be light fixtures, like I see how the light penetrates through, could

01:28create a functional design piece.

01:31I've seen my goal in fire station ending with like a new invented piece that I created throughout

01:39the program.

01:40In 2022, Nada showcased her talent for innovative design in Milan, where she won third place

01:46in an exhibition organized by the renowned designer Rosana Orlandi.

01:52The Qatar-based Egyptian designer was also named one of Forbes Middle East 30 under 30

01:57last year, an accolade she didn't expect at all.

02:01I was very delighted to be together with among other people who merge not just design but

02:09merge other disciplines together.

02:11And from there, I gained that really the word merging is the key.

02:15When once you start merging things together, you produce and whatever you're producing

02:21is very needed.

02:23Nada is among a number of female artists enrolled in the Artist-in-Residence program

02:28here at the Doha Fire Station.

02:30For nine months, the studios become almost like a second home, a safe space for the artists

02:35to explore and nurture their craft.

02:38Whether it's printmaking, woodwork or painting, the diversity in disciplines fuels a culture

02:43of creative expression.

02:46On the hall, we meet Lolwa Al-Maghaysib, a seasoned Qatari artist who has represented

02:51the country in exhibitions around the world.

02:55It took around 15 years for Lolwa to find the signature strokes of the brush she has today.

03:16After capping off a residency in Paris, Lolwa also showcased her artwork in Copenhagen and

03:27most recently held her first solo exhibition in Qatar.

03:47Lolwa hopes that with the creative community she's found at the Doha Fire Station, it will

03:55inspire her to continue her craft and for more women to pursue the art of expression.

04:17The Doha Film Institute is the home of the Ajiyal Film Festival.

04:22Filmmakers and film lovers alike converge to watch the 66 films on offer.

04:27Female filmmakers made more than one-third of the movies shown during the popular festival's

04:3212th edition.

04:33I caught up with the institute's CEO, Fatima Al-Rumaihi, to find out why she believes Ajiyal

04:38is a crucial platform to inspire conversations and bridge cultural divides.

04:45Welcome again to Ajiyal.

04:46Fatima, tell us about Ajiyal and why it's so important to the Doha Film Institute.

04:50Ajiyal is an Arabic word that means generations and from the beginning of Doha Film Institute,

04:58when we started working and paving the way for a film industry in Qatar and the region,

05:03we realized that we're working with a very young audience and we're hoping that this audience

05:10will help build this industry in the future.

05:13A big part of Ajiyal is the Made in Qatar showcase featuring the works of Qatari and

05:18Qatar-based filmmakers.

05:20How have you seen the country's film industry grow over the years?

05:23Made in Qatar is a great platform and also an incentive for filmmakers to make films

05:29every year because they want to be part of the celebration with the community, with their

05:34own family and friends coming and watching their films.

05:37So it's a great incentive from them and from there, these films travel the world after

05:42so they get also to experience different festivals and they meet a lot of the industry.

05:47So for us at the institute, it's a great measure to see how the production and industry is

05:55evolving every year in the country.

05:57During your time at the DFI, have you seen an increase in the number of female filmmakers?

06:01Yes, I think we have the highest percentage in the world in terms of female filmmakers,

06:06because around 60% when you compare it to the Arab region, it's around 28%.

06:11When you compare it to the Americas, it's 9% in independent cinema.

06:16So it's really, we're very happy with the numbers that we see.

06:20It's great because we never put quotas for anything, even in our grants program.

06:25We usually have 50-50 spread between the female and male and it's not because we're putting

06:31any conditions, it's just because we're authentically choosing the right stories.

06:36So across the industry, there's still some work to be done.

06:38What else would you like to see happen to increase representation in the film industry?

06:42I think there's a lot still need to be done.

06:44I mean, we did manage to work through a lot of things over the years

06:49and try to find solutions and programs that include everybody.

06:53But of course, female appreciation in the region is very high,

06:58higher than anywhere else in the world.

07:00And we really want to see more and more stories.

07:03We need people to get out of their comfort a little bit more.

07:06And we've seen amazing examples of female filmmakers who are trailblazing and doing this

07:12and becoming an example for other female filmmakers.

07:15But as always, there are some sensitivities.

07:18So as soon as we try to overcome them and share together the collective experience

07:25and the collective responsibility, it will become easier and easier in the future.

07:29What do you hope your role as a leader signifies to young women interested in a career in film?

07:34It's not just me. Also, our chairperson, Sheikha Mayasa,

07:37is also a female leader in the arts and culture.

07:40Sheikha Moza in education and everything that she does.

07:43So it's really fantastic to see role models for girls and women here in Qatar.

07:49But not just for Qatar, but everywhere in the region for girls in the region

07:53to see women are not restricted by their hijab or restricted by their traditional attire.

07:58They can do whatever they want. They can be whoever they want.

08:02And they can create change and they can create the waves to make their societies better.

08:09And for you personally, where does your love for film come from?

08:12From childhood, I think. From watching a lot of things.

08:17From giving that chance by my parents to travel and see things around the world.

08:23It all came from there.

08:26And when a film festival happened in Doha, of course, I was one of the first people who joined.

08:32And I've been doing it ever since.

08:35And now you're the CEO.

08:36Yes.

08:37Thank you so much, Fatima.

08:38Thank you so much. Thank you. My pleasure.

08:42From filmmaking to another flourishing industry where women are leaving their mark.

08:46Fashion.

08:47Ioanna Houze meets a Qatari designer whose handmade fabrics are as striking as they are sustainable.

08:55Qatari fashion designer, Mashal Naimi, has an unusual motto, dressing healthy.

09:00In a world of fast fashion, her eco-friendly brand, Mehefhef, is about style and, of course, sustainability.

09:07Designed for the modern woman, but rooted in centuries-old production practices.

09:12Every technique I use for my design was there before the Industrial Revolution.

09:19So you can do this whole thing without any electricity.

09:24No power.

09:25With basic tools like wood, looms, hand-woven.

09:29Everything is done by hand.

09:31And we use natural dyes from pomegranate, from henna, from a lot of things you have in your kitchen.

09:38Saffron, coffee, tea.

09:41That's basically what we use.

09:43And a few plants.

09:46Mehefhef means breezy or flowy and the brand is inspired by the dancing dunes of the desert

09:52and the region's heritage and natural beauty.

09:54Mashal collaborates with artisans from around the world

09:58and her craftsmanship has become a hallmark of her collections.

10:02So much so that Mashal's designs are celebrated not just as pieces of clothing, but pieces of art.

10:08One of her creations, a modern interpretation of the traditional bisht,

10:12is even on display here at the National Museum of Qatar

10:16for its intricate and innovative technique of permanent henna painting.

10:20Quite a feat for a designer who only entered the fashion industry five years ago.

10:26When I was first approached about having a abaya displayed at the National Museum of Qatar,

10:31I was so intimidated.

10:33It was such a proud moment.

10:35I always remember these things like, you know,

10:37Her Highness Sheikha Musa, Her Excellency Sheikha al-Mayasa,

10:41all the women, all the inspiring women that wore my abayas.

10:45And National Museum of Qatar, all these things.

10:48I always remind myself that, you know, you can do more.

10:52You've gone this far, you can do more.

10:55Mashal's commitment to sustainability has made her a leading voice in the region,

10:59pushing the textile industry to produce clothing that's not just fashionable,

11:03but friendly to the planet.

11:05My message to consumers is, please demand more from retailers.

11:11Demand information, demand transparency.

11:14You need to know how your garments are made, who made them.

11:20Because sustainability is not about just, you know, being vegan or wearing natural clothes.

11:26It's also about equity.

11:28It's about living in a society, in a world where you care about each other.

11:32This is the important thing.

11:37Artistic creativity can be channeled in many forms,

11:40including filmmaking, fashion and design.

11:43We hope you enjoyed meeting some incredibly innovative women with us on this episode.

11:47But that's all the time we have for now.

11:49For more, check out euronews.com and connect with us through a hashtag.

11:52Thanks for watching, and we'll see you next time on Qatar 365.

Category

Transcript

Recommended