Doha, February 04 (QNA) - Art Basel Qatar opened Wednesday to the public and will run until Saturday at various locations within Msheireb Downtown Doha, including the M7 building and the Doha Design District, as well as other venues in the area.

The exhibition, organized in partnership with Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) and QC+, takes place across Msheireb Downtown Doha and runs through Feb. 7.

In this regard, Artistic Director of Art Basel Qatar and the Doha of Fire Station: Artist in Residence, artist Wael Shawky affirmed in a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA) that Qatar's hosting of the first edition of Art Basel Qatar clearly confirms the country's success in investing in the cultural and artistic sector, reflecting the clarity of vision that the State possesses in this field.

He noted that this MENASA edition (Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia), hosted by Qatar, marks a significant turning point in the art world, given the importance of art in societies and its vast and widespread market.

He explained that alongside the main exhibitions, which feature works by 84 artists from 31 countries and 87 prestigious galleries, the fair will showcase a unique Special Projects program. A program including wide-ranging series of nine large-scale, site-specific sculptures, installations, and live performances, distributed across key cultural landmarks and public spaces in Msheireb Downtown Doha.

Shawky clarified that, through preparations for its Arab edition, Art Basel Qatar has enabled a number of galleries to present a single artist's work, whether from the Arab world, Asia, or Arab artists living across different parts of the world. This approach aims to create integration among participating galleries on artistic, intellectual, and conceptual levels, an initiative taking place for the first time.

As a result, concerted efforts were made to present the exhibition in a refined and cohesive manner, ensuring harmony among the works under the main theme, "Becoming." Together, these efforts form the largest gathering of public artworks ever realized in the history of Art Basel fairs, allowing the Special Projects to engage in a visual and intellectual dialogue with works exhibited in the gallery sector, deepening artistic inquiry into the concept of transformation and exploring its multiple dimensions.

He emphasized the commitment of Art Basel Qatar, in its inaugural edition, to move away from the traditional booth model and instead present a new exhibition format centered on artistic vision and conceptual precision. The fair was designed as a platform to deepen engagement with leading galleries and artists from the MENASA region and beyond, while focusing on delivering an immersive artistic experience that maintains a strong presence within the art market.

Regarding the selection process for participating artists in this international event, Wael Shawky indicated that efforts were made to ensure that artistic contributions aligned with the overarching concept of Art Basel, with a focus on the region's history, civilization, and cultural context. This approach seeks to explore artistic practices from across the Middle East, North Africa, and beyond, within a framework that values research, narrative, and experimentation.

Approximately half of the participating artists are from Qatar, the Gulf, and the wider Arab region, including artists from India, Pakistan, and North Africa, while the other half are from Europe and the Americas. This balance aims to foster a cultural and artistic dialogue rather than merely a commercial art market. Artists explore the concept of transformation from both material and conceptual perspectives, examining the essence of change, transition, disruption, and the interstitial spaces between different states.

Works presented within the Special Projects interact directly with profound environmental, economic, and social transformations shaping the contemporary world, reinforcing the program's connection to pressing regional and global issues.

On the added artistic value of Art Basel Qatar and whether it can be reduced to hosting alone or carries a long-term impact, the Artistic Director highlighted that this edition was conceived as a declaration that the creative process is not entirely separate from the art market.

It is worth noting that Art Basel was founded in 1970 by gallery owners in Basel and today hosts leading international exhibitions of modern and contemporary art in Basel, Miami Beach, Hong Kong, and Paris.

Each Art Basel fair is distinguished by its unique character according to the host city and region, reflected in the participating galleries, exhibited artworks, and the content of accompanying programs produced in collaboration with local institutions in each edition.

Art Basel has expanded its scope beyond traditional art fairs through new digital platforms and initiatives, including the Art Basel and UBS Global Art Market Report and the Art Basel Shop. (QNA)