DOHA ART PAVILION

The Silence Sanctuary

The architecture of this sanctuary at first glance appears to be a solid rock-like sculpture floating in a shallow pool of water (40’x80’) creating a tranquil setting. As one moves around the sculpture a ramp ending at an opening invites one to the interior of the sanctuary This continuity of space and material continues in the seating areas and benches providing four viewing pods for the ground breaking four piece series titled Silence in 2007 created by noted video artist Shoja Azari and painter Shahram Karimi. Here the art is the focus of the room providing a virtual window to the outside world.

This sanctuary is a faceted, cave-like space as if carved out of a large stone where all walls, floor, and ceiling are continuous and made out of the same material. The surrounding pool of water that subtly appears within the interior space provides cooling, calming experience and adds an aesthetic complexity as the viewers experience the sound of the running water and nature.

The Silence Room also explores the relationship of geometry and space.

The series consists of acrylic paintings on canvas with video projection over them, with each canvas depicting one season of the year. The perfectly aligned installation connects the two mediums painting and video to produce subtle movements of water and bring to life the flat surface, thereby suggesting an element of real time onto an otherwise frozen moment.

On viewing the work in a darkened room, the sensory result is unexpected and draws the viewer to contemplate the spectacle and the radiance of the abstraction. The viewer gets the distinct impression that these works depict scenes in which water is moving, snow is falling, the sun is shining, or wind is bringing to life the canvas. These works are calming and enveloping, as the subtle movement on the painting mesmerizes the viewer.

The necessary projectors and technological requirements will be built into the  structure of the walls and ceiling of the room and invisible to the visitors.

The Silence Room is envisioned as a place where spirituality, art and nature intermingle, where some would turn to for a short escape from daily life, and others come to contemplate, meditate, pray and to be inspired.