The opening of Skate Girls of Kabul exhibition which took place at QM gallery in Katara yesterday. pic; Baher Amin
Skate Girls of Kabul, a photo exhibition tracing the extraordinary story of Afghani girls who use skateboards as a means of transportation to in going to school, marks its Middle East debut at a major show which opened yesterday at QM Gallery in Katara.
Presented by Qatar Museums (QM), the exhibition, which runs until October 21, showcases 40 images taken by acclaimed British photographer Jessica Fulford-Dobson. It features portraits of Afghani girls between the ages of five and 25 using skateboards to attend school, thanks to Skateistan, an award-winning international nonprofit organisation empowering youth and children through skateboarding and education. The hopeful and tenacious spirit of the exhibition is meant to resonate with the local community and echo QM’s mission of inspiring education through creative approaches.
Khalid Al Ibrahim, Chief Strategic Planning Office at Qatar Museums said: “The Skate Girls of Kabul opening night event was a true reflection of the spirit of the show. The photographs emitted a sense of hopefulness and perseverance, reaching out into the audience to grab the guests’ attention with their subjects’ determined gazes. This powerful show is yet another example of Qatar Museums’ focus on bringing high-profile exhibitions to Qatar with the aim of inspiring an indigenous culture of creativity and innovation.”
Jessica Fulford-Dobson, said: “I first met these girls in 2012 and knew their story had to be told. It was their determination, and the unique way in which they created a skating culture entirely their own, that kept me coming back to the skate park day after day to capture this pocket of hope. It’s hard to put into words how captivating this young skateboarding community was to be around but I hope that’s precisely what the photographs will show. That’s why I chose to work with natural light and in the original setting of the skate park, letting these girls’ personalities shine through the images. I hope the photo series captures their joy of skating, their individuality and the unique community they built around their shared experiences.”
A unique feature of the exhibition is a skating ramp that where guests will be able to try their hand at skateboarding by using skateboards and helmets made available to visitors. The exhibition is open until October every day except Sundays. It is open from 10am to 8pm from Monday to Thursday and Saturday and from 3pm to 9pm on Fridays.
