Habeeb M. Abu-Futtaim
About:
Habeeb M. Abu-Futtaim is an artist, educator, and Arab art specialist based in Doha. Born and raised in Qatar, he comes from a multicultural Hadhrami/Yemeni–South Asian background. He holds a BFA in Painting and Printmaking with a minor in Art History from Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar, and an MA in Museum and Gallery Practice from University College London.
Abu-Futtaim has exhibited in international Biennials and group shows, including in Berlin, Dubai, Doha, and Santa Cruz, and his work is held in collections such as the Barjeel Art Foundation and the Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Cruz. He co-founded and led the Modern and Contemporary Arab Art auctions at AlBahie Auction House in Doha for several years, playing a key role in advancing the Arab art market regionally and internationally.
He teaches in the Department of Painting and Printmaking at Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar, where he co-founded ArtWeek and the HS Fine Art Award.
Artist Statement:
My practice is the outcome of an ongoing exploration and introspection of the often arbitrary and absurd nature of cultural and political identities. My interest lies in examining visual elements and symbolisms associated with essentialist notions of homogenous identities. Through the work, I attempt to understand the impact of Western hegemony on the cultural production of the West Asian region, and its relation to collective nation-building and identity building exercises. It also examines the impact of visual representations of a people and culture as a subject, critically examining the entrenched systems of image production, dissemination, and representation in new media.
Through my practice, my intent is to foster a nuanced understanding of cultural hybridity, while navigating the complexities inherent in assuming the role of an artist operating within a post-decolonial condition.
Habeeb M. Abu-Futtaim is an artist, educator, and Arab art specialist based in Doha. Born and raised in Qatar, he comes from a multicultural Hadhrami/Yemeni–South Asian background. He holds a BFA in Painting and Printmaking with a minor in Art History from Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar, and an MA in Museum and Gallery Practice from University College London.
Abu-Futtaim has exhibited in international Biennials and group shows, including in Berlin, Dubai, Doha, and Santa Cruz, and his work is held in collections such as the Barjeel Art Foundation and the Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Cruz. He co-founded and led the Modern and Contemporary Arab Art auctions at AlBahie Auction House in Doha for several years, playing a key role in advancing the Arab art market regionally and internationally.
He teaches in the Department of Painting and Printmaking at Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar, where he co-founded ArtWeek and the HS Fine Art Award.
Artist Statement:
My practice is the outcome of an ongoing exploration and introspection of the often arbitrary and absurd nature of cultural and political identities. My interest lies in examining visual elements and symbolisms associated with essentialist notions of homogenous identities. Through the work, I attempt to understand the impact of Western hegemony on the cultural production of the West Asian region, and its relation to collective nation-building and identity building exercises. It also examines the impact of visual representations of a people and culture as a subject, critically examining the entrenched systems of image production, dissemination, and representation in new media.
Through my practice, my intent is to foster a nuanced understanding of cultural hybridity, while navigating the complexities inherent in assuming the role of an artist operating within a post-decolonial condition.