DOHA: Minister of State for International Cooperation HE Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater has inaugurated the 'Together We Are' exhibition, which features more than 36 artworks created by young patients from the Children's Cancer Hospital in Egypt.
The exhibition's opening was attended by several officials from Qatar Museums, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the State of Qatar HE Amr Kamal El Din El Sherbiny, among others who are interested in the event.
The exhibition, which runs until Nov 7, highlights the role of art in supporting mental and physical health and showcases the deep cultural ties between Qatar and Egypt.
The exhibition includes an inspiring collection of paintings and drawings that reflect the creativity and resilience of children undergoing cancer treatment. Each piece tells a unique story filled with hope, courage, and vivid imagination.
During the opening ceremony, Director of the Media and Communication Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ibrahim bin Sultan Al Hashmi said that the artists celebrated today have chosen the highest path, making their art a representation of the journey to recovery, an expression of overcoming challenges, and a testament to our shared humanity. He added that, through 36 artworks created by their hands, they have conveyed inspiration, hope, and the aspiration for a bright future.
He paid tribute added to the of the people in Gaza who face systematic attempts at genocide and ethnic cleansing. He stressed that there was no nobler act than defending one's existence, beliefs, and land against an oppressive occupation, with steadfastness and resistance being the message against the savage machinery of destruction. He expressed pride in the participation of some of the survivors from Gaza in the exhibition, who resisted occupation through their art and creativity.
The Director of the Media and Communication Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed gratitude to the staff of Hospital 57357 for their exceptional efforts in linking art with recovery and enabling survivors to hold such an exhibition. He also thanked the Museum of Islamic Art for hosting the exhibition.
Director of the Museum of Islamic Art Sheikha Nasser Al Nasr expressed her happiness at the museum hosting this exhibition, which celebrates creators with willpower and determination.
She presented the audience with a collection of Tales from Gaza books, explaining that this collection is an initiative organized by the Museum of Islamic Art for the benefit of children and youth from Gaza who have come to Qatar to share their real-life stories that embody the spirit of resilience and challenge. These stories are seen through the eyes and hands of children and youth who have experienced painful moments but are filled with hope and a determination to live.
In his speech, the Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the State of Qatar, thanked the organizers of the exhibition. His Excellency stressed that the exhibition represents an important axis of cooperation between Egypt and Qatar in its humanitarian and artistic dimensions by building bridges of communication and joint cooperation.
He said that art was the highest form of human expression and speaks to everyone. He noted that the paintings in this exhibition, created by the hands of Egyptian children, reflect this and showcase real talent and confidence in future generations' ability to work and contribute despite all difficulties.
He praised the strength of the Egyptian-Qatari relations and their historical bonds of brotherhood and deeply rooted cooperative ties that enhance Arab solidarity. He emphasized that these relations are currently witnessing ongoing developments aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation to serve the aspirations of both nations and peoples and support efforts to defend the causes of the Arab nation.
He added that the strategic partnership between Egypt and Qatar gains significance in the context of efforts aimed at finding peaceful solutions to various issues under the framework of international law and the United Nations Charter, which makes the progress in the relationship between the two countries an important and vital push toward resolving crises in the region and the world.
Deputy Director of MIA's Learning and Outreach Department Salem Al Aswad Al Marri expressed pleasure to host the exhibition that features artworks by 15 children from the Children’s Cancer Hospital Egypt that reflect their dreams and hopes, and embody their courage and will in facing challenges.
Each artwork reflects the victories and challenges that each child faced during their treatment journey, which expresses their strength and courage, and confirms that pain can be transformed into hope through a journey of creativity and giving, he said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Executive Director of the Association of Friends of the National Cancer-free Initiative, Egypt, Sherif Hussein extended his thanks to the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Qatar Museums for hosting these creative people and drawing a smile on their faces.
Hussein told Qatar News Agency (QNA) that the idea of participating in this exhibition came when Minister of State for International Cooperation, HE Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater visited the Children's Cancer Hospital Egypt 57357 last year, to check on some of cases coming from Gaza.
She saw the hospital’s interest in enhancing artistic skills, so she extended an invitation to hold an exhibition for these children, with a group of children from Egypt and Palestine participating to present drawings and paintings that were made specifically for this exhibition and to express the common culture between Qatar and Egypt, he added.
Hussein added that the Children's Cancer Hospital Egypt started operating in 2007 and is one of the largest specialized hospitals in the world, providing medical care with the latest treatment protocols for all types of cancer. The focus was not only on medical aspects, but also on the psychological and human aspects of children, which was reflected in the presence of a special art department within the hospital that embraces all talents to entertain them and make their stay in the hospital more tolerable.
In the same context, the MIA held workshops and interactive activities for visiting children that focused on healing through art and creative expression, and provided a supportive environment through which children explored their artistic skills, which helped them express their experiences and feelings in creative ways. The program extended over the course of a week, and included various workshops and tours of sites around Doha.
'Together We Are' invites art lovers, healthcare workers and all segments of society to engage with the stories told by the artworks and celebrate the resilience of the human spirit, while emphasizing the role of art in healing and building connections among cultures.