UK/QATAR. Manchester Airport’s international artist-in-residence has sought to capture the essence of Doha for a new VIP exhibition.
Rob Pointon was flown to the city by Qatar Airways from Manchester as part of his three-year residency with the UK airport.
During his time in Qatar Pointon has been painting a series of pieces that aim to evoke a sense of Doha, ranging from historical and cultural landmarks to feats of engineering and architecture. These have included the UCI Road World Championships in cycling and the Spice Souq inside the Souq Waqif open-air marketplace.
Upon his return to the UK, Pointon will host a VIP exhibition in Manchester’s city centre. The event will be held in conjunction with Qatar Airways on 30 November to display his artwork from Doha.
Qatar Airways has flown from Manchester Airport to Doha for over 13 years and now operates 16 flights per week between the two cities.
“Rob’s first trip to Hong Kong produced some stunning pieces of art, so I’m excited to see what he produces following his time in Doha,” said Manchester Airport Commercial Director Stephen Turner. “I am looking forward to his exhibition which will showcase, to passengers and the public, a flavour of one of our 210 destinations.”
Pointon commented: “Doha rises up from the desert as a fascinating showcase of the modern world with the vigorous growth of a city of cutting-edge architecture. As a painter, I have enjoyed exploring the celebrated Arabic cultures and of course, the consistent sunlight with spectacular sunsets and rises.”
Qatar Airways Country Manager UK & Ireland Morena Bronzetti noted: “We are delighted to have been able to welcome the Manchester Airport international artist-in-residence Rob Pointon onboard our flight to Doha for this special project. Doha is a city that enjoys a rich history and culture and visitors to this exhibition will be able to get a tantalising glimpse of a cityscape that is becoming increasingly famous around the world.”
Pointon visited Hong Kong earlier in the year and held a subsequent exhibition at Manchester Airport.
