Doha: Some of the works of well-known photographer Youssef Nabil are on show at Souq Waqif Art Centre in Doha.
On show are the contemporary works of Nabil mainly colourful hand-painted photographs of Egyptian actresses and actors. The beautiful individuals in each of the photos are intricately hand-painted over the original photographs, he told The Peninsula.
Subtle, elegant, and intriguing hues of pastels, and primary colours accentuate the appeal of the photos.
When asked how long it took him to complete one photo, Nabil answered, "If I am working on a small photo, it takes about three days, but if it is a much larger photograph, ten days to about two weeks of effort is required." He also said that once a photograph was taken there was no turning back. In others words, he says "No" to redoing photographs.
Nabil's works capture the essence of the old technique of hand-painting photographs to create images both beautiful and conflicting - born from his fascination for the glamour and style associated with Egyptian cinema.
Other places his inspiration comes from are, "Everything, from meeting people, my life," Nabil said. "Meeting people, then liking something about them makes me want to do that portrait. I like something about them. Something makes me feel that they have something that belongs to me," he said.
The photo exhibition, which will run until July 1, is open to the general public at the Third Line Gallery, Souq Waqif Art Centre. It is being supported by the Deutsche Bank.
Mounir Husseini, Chief Country Officer for Qatar at Deutsche Bank says, "Our endorsement of Youssef Nabil's exhibition comes in recognition of his immense talent. It is a small contribution towards Qatar's endeavour to create the optimal platform for artists to present their work."
Third Line art gallery presents the works of contemporary Middle Eastern artists. Besides Doha, the gallery has a branch in Dubai. Along with art exhibitions, The Third Line organizes non-profit programmes that foster dialogue between artists and the public.
So, do not miss the photographs by Nabil, they are waiting for an audience to view them. They are unique works of art that cannot be overlooked.
© The Peninsula 2008
