Art Hub
If you’re an art aficionado and in need of a hit of some solid creativity, we caught up with artists Jacinthe Lamontagne-Lecomte and Sabah Arbilli, for an inside scoop on their love for art If you haven’t visited InterContinental Doha The City, then we’re giving you a good reason to visit now. The hotel not only houses Strata Lounge offering great evenings with colourful parties, but also, great fine dining – and incredible art thrown into the mix. Hwang and Square restaurant houses exceptional paintings from magnificent contemporary artists. Jacinthe, what inspired you to become an artist? Free time in sunny Doha! I started with clay classes at the Youth Creative Art Center with the artist Waleed R. Qaisi. But since it wasn’t well equipped when it came to glazing, I couldn’t apply the red colour on my pieces. So I looked up for something else to create and I came up with photo transfer combined with mixed media. I wanted to share with others the beautiful faces I encounter while travelling - especially Asian faces. How did Hwang inspired your paintings? When Chris Jung approached me to fill out the walls of his upcoming Asian restaurant, I didn’t know what Hwang was all about because I started the paintings before the opening of the restaurant. I was truly inspired by the staff at the hotel and the GM himself. Hwang is a Pan Asian restaurant offering meals from different Asian countries, countries I had visited. Inspiration just came along...
Jacinthe Lamontagne-Lecomte
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Sabah Arbilli
01. Asian restaurant, Hwang, houses the exceptional pieces by artist: Jacinthe lamontagne-Lecomte 02. Sabah Arbilli’s work can be found throughout the hotel’s lobby and Square restaurant 03. Sculpture by sabah arbilli Sabah, who inspires you as an artist? Many artists and periods inspire me from contemporary modern to classic. It is normally an artist, which thinks outside the box with a theme or method.
How important is art? Really important; it is not only a way of expression, it is like therapy. It makes you question yourself; it is up to you if you’re open minded or not. Art is for everyone. No discrimination. 02
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Why Islamic calligraphy as your form of artistry? At an early age I was told I had beautiful writing. I use Islamic calligraphy as an engineer; I was fascinated by the composition and measurement of the letters in Arabic. What do you enjoy the most: sculpting or painting? To be honest both, as I see sometimes work executed in 3D or as a painting. When you have the idea you can also project its final placement and how it may look, however this may change during the process.