An exhibition showcasing photographic works that delve into themes of memory, identity, and everyday cultural markers is currently on display at Bayt Al Wakrah in Qatar. Titled “As the Image Unfolds – The Language of Athar,” the exhibit features recent projects by photographers Mohammed Fakhroo, Ghada al-Mawlawi, and Raja Aderdor. The exhibition runs until December 15.
The show is the culminating event of Tasweer’s inaugural five-month artist residency program, which provided the three artists with dedicated time and resources to research, experiment, and develop new photographic bodies of work. Tasweer, established in 2021, is a Qatar-based organization that supports the development of photography across the West Asia and North Africa region through initiatives such as residencies, workshops, and competitions.
Khalifa al-Obaidly, Tasweer’s director, explained that the residency gave the participating artists valuable opportunity to refine their ideas and methodologies. “What audiences see in The Language of Athar is the result of that process, reflecting three distinct ways of thinking about traces, memory and the places around us,” he said in a statement.
The exhibition’s title is derived from the Arabic word “athar,” meaning traces or imprints, and it brings together three distinct perspectives on memory, belonging, and the environments people inhabit. Each artist’s project highlights different aspects of these themes.
Ghada al-Mawlawi’s project, Portals of Belonging, focuses on family memory through still-life and documentary photography. Drawing inspiration from the hospitality traditions practiced by her two grandmothers, al-Mawlawi uses heirloom objects, table settings, and small gestures of care to examine how love and belonging are transmitted across generations.
Mohammed Fakhroo’s For Sale? investigates consumer culture by capturing scenes of shops, markets, workers, mannequins, and staged retail displays. His work probes the relationships among commercial presentation, labor, and desire, encouraging viewers to reconsider familiar retail environments from a critical perspective.
Raja Aderdor presents Signs Seen, Yet Unseen, a series based on photographs taken in Qatar and Morocco. His images focus on public signage such as handwritten notices, religious inscriptions, and shop signs, reflecting layers of identity, faith, humor, labor, and social belonging embedded within everyday life.
The artists benefited from the mentorship of Tasweer director Khalifa al-Obaidly and Ghayyan al-Amine during their residency. Maria Ovsyannikova also contributed as a curator. The exhibition is part of Qatar Creates 2026–27 season, an expansive cultural program encompassing visual art, design, photography, and heritage initiatives.
Visitors can view the exhibition at Bayt Al Wakrah Saturday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Fridays from 1:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is free but requires prior booking through the Tasweer website.