WEDNESDAY 26 DECEMBER 2012 • [email protected] • www.thepeninsulaqatar.com • 4455 7741 inside Dwarfs and elves CAMPUS • Texas A&M University overpower Tom Cruise at Qatar hosts mathematics workshop at box office P | 4 P | 8-9 MARKETPLACE • Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply launches Qatar branch P | 5 TRAVEL • Travel Picks: Top 10 New Year favourites P | 6 HEALTH • Allergies, extra weight tied to bullying: Studies • Endodontic retreatment P | 7 Artist TECHNOLOGY • Tablet as teacher: Poor Ethiopian honoured kids learn ABCs For over five decades, prolific late Qatari artist Jassim Zaini portrayed the history P | 12 and culture of Qatar through his paintings and as a fitting tribute to his pioneering LEARN ARABIC contributions to the country, the Ministry • Learn commonly used Arabic words and their of Culture has named a hall after him. meanings P | 2-3 Return from Fish P | 13 Market (1978) 2 PLUS | WEDNESDAY 26 DECEMBER 2012 COVER STORY The Late Sheikh Hamad bin Abdulla bin Jassim (1973) Source of inspiration Jassim Zaini By Raynald C Rivera has been honoured with one of the “I don’t have an idea how many halls at the Ministry of Culture, Arts paintings my father created during n the Qatari art community, and Heritage being named after him his lifetime. In fact, I haven’t seen the name Jassim Zaini is syn- yesterday. some of those published in this book,” onymous with artistic excel- “I’m happy that this hall was Dr Mohammed said, adding that all Ilence, and for the country as a named after my father. I will be the paintings undeniably bore the whole, his legacy is a source of inspi- able to hear my father’s name for mark of his father’s unique style. One of the founding ration for the current and future a long time,” Dr Mohammed bin Looking closely at Jassim Zaini’s generations. Jassim Zaini told The Peninsula after works, one can discern a lot of sen- fathers of the local Zaini was one of the few Qatari the inauguration of the Jassim bin sibility and feel a sense of mystery in artists to witness the country’s devel- Mohammed Zaini Hall. the lines and choice of colours. contemporary art opment from humble beginnings, and He said he felt honoured that the Though he exhibits versatility in along with his contemporaries he hall was named in memory of his media and technique, there is a dis- movement, Jassim documented the social and economic father, which, he added, would foster tinct mark of the artist in each of the transformation of Qatar during the creativity and benefit other artists. paintings, which all feature the use Zaini, was the first fifties and the sixties after the dis- “I don’t think this is just for my of colour to evoke the feelings and covery of oil. father. This is for all artists and those emotions the artist wanted to convey. elected president Aside from his stature as one of associated with arts and culture. I And though his son does not pos- the founding fathers of the local hope this would be a good venue to sess Jassim Zaini’s exceptional artis- of the Qatar Fine contemporary art movement, Zaini produce beautiful works of art which tic flair, he has inherited his father’s was the first elected president of the many people will enjoy for genera- heart for art. Arts Society. Qatar Fine Arts Society. tions to come,” he said. “I think everyone has an artist in Throughout the five decades of his Having created a huge body of art, his heart. Art is feeling, and any type career, the late artist captured on Zaini was considered one of the most of feeling is art. If you are able to feel, canvas key moments in the country’s prolific artists in Qatar. Some of his that means you are an artist; some- recent history, and the unique facets paintings have been documented in thing you may not show in painting of its people and culture. For this, he a 100-page coffee table book. or even writing,” said Dr Mohammed. PLUS | WEDNESDAY 26 DECEMBER 2012 3 While some of Zaini’s origi- nal works of art are displayed in the hall, some others are part of museum collections. Dr Mohammed, who has 145 paint- ings by his father in his personal collection, said he was still sur- prised to discover paintings by his father which he had never seen before. H E Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari, the Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage, who knew Zaini personally, said the passing of the painter had left a void in Qatar’s art scene, but his huge volume of work would remain a beacon for artists and art enthusiasts. “We are here to honour one of Qatar’s great names. He left us, but his work will stay with us. He will remain influential with the quality and diversity of his works, from which the current and coming genera- tions will benefit,” he said at the opening of the hall. Dr Al Kuwari expressed admiration for Zaini’s dedica- tion to the Qatari art movement and his lifelong devotion to cre- ating paintings that reflected Qatar’s development, particu- larly the socio-cultural aspect of it. “Our life in Qatar is linked The Sea to the land and the sea and our 1972 culture is based on these two factors, and this man reflected them very clearly in his paint- ings. Also, he spent a lot of his time immortalizing Qatar’s famous men, especially poets and writers, and their portraits, which tell of specific periods in our history, have now become an essential part of our cultural heritage,” the minister said. Dr Al Kuwari was referring to the nearly 70 portraits of poets and writers from Qatar and the Gulf region which Zaini did in one and a half years. The huge collection featured in an expo two years ago titled ‘Knights of Poetry’, held as part of the Doha Capital of Arab Culture programme. In an interview, Zaini high- lighted the important role poets play in “inspiring all social classes by recording historical and social events.” His works artistically integrate each poet’s portrait and his well-known H E Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari, Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage, visiting the gallery during the launch of Jassim verses. bin Mohammed Al Zayani Cultural Hall at the Ministry of Culture and Heritage Tower, Doha. Zaini was not only concerned about Qatar, but also the Gulf and the Arab world in general. Baghdad, he had developed a fascina- Spain, Britain, France, Egypt and among the last he participated in. He used to spend time in Cairo tion for the city, and one of his wishes Syria as well as the GCC countries. Dozens of Zaini’s paintings are and Baghdad, reflecting on his before passing away was to visit the Until the end, he was innovat- on display in the newly inaugurated feelings about the general situ- Iraqi capital. ing and exploring new styles and Jassim bin Mohammed Zaini Hall at ation in the Arab world. He was also well travelled, having supporting the growth of Qatar’s the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Having studied at the held solo and collective exhibitions in fine arts movement. The Swalif Heritage Tower. University of Fine Arts in Japan, India, Pakistan, Korea, Turkey, and Mal Lawal exhibitions were THE PENINSULA 4 PLUS | WEDNESDAY 26 DECEMBER 2012 CAMPUS Qatar Academy student’s essay features in COP18/CMP8 website leventh-grader Bilal Akbar was just trying to research Efor substantial material for a political journal he’s setting up at school but by the time the 2012 United Nations Climate Change Conference – COP 18/CMP8 ended, he not only participated in this con- vention’s Youth Day, his insights were also selected by the confer- ence press group for publication online. While this came as a surprise to the Qatar Academy student, his efforts to be part of the conference were certainly worth the unexpected exposure. “I got involved with COP 18 when I decided to start a political Independent school mathematics instructors with Texas A&M University at Qatar officials. journal for QA and I wanted to base the first issue around the confer- ence,” he says. “I wanted to take full Texas A&M hosts mathematics workshop advantage of this unique opportu- nity where an actual UN gathering exas A&M University at to their first semester math courses have is their high school teachers. A was being held across our school. Qatar recently hosted a at Texas A&M at Qatar. vertical team approach to teach- Initially, I applied for accredita- day long workshop for Raelene Dufresne, workshop pre- ing and learning mathematics, from tion as a member of the press but Tlocal independent high senter and mathematics lecturer at high school to university, is the key they placed me in the youth group school mathematics instructors Texas A&M at Qatar, said, “the time to unlocking the potential in Qatar’s because I wasn’t an adult yet”. at its Education City Engineering has come to open the dialogue between future engineers.” Bilal used his COP 18 article to Building. The workshop, entitled high school and university educators in The workshop was organized as a shed light on the possible role of “On the Transition from High order to alighn the learning outcomes recruitment and outreach effort by the students in changing the situation. School to University Mathematics,” at high school with the learning pre- Office of Academic Affairs.