He Qatar International Arts Festival (QIAF) celebrates its 7th edition in Dohaand established itself as a colossus of cultural diplomacy.
With more than 500 artists, the event is an important platform for global art, marked this year by a notable presence of female artists, including a strong Argentine brand based in Córdoba.
The festival, organized by MAPS International WLL in collaboration with Kataratook place from December 7th to 12th at Katara Hall – Building 12, with artists from more than 70 countries taking part.
As part of the exchange, three women traveled from Córdoba to present their proposals to forge links between the heart of Argentina and the Persian Gulf emirate.
The Córdoba bet
The artists from Cordoba Eugenia Pabon Morales, Griselda Saina And Patricia Marquez They joined QIAF after managing their participation independently and contacting the organization through social networks. There they met other Argentine artists and solidified their nationwide representation at an event that received 868 registrations from 87 countries.
In dialogue with Córdoba profileEugenia Pabon Morales shared details of her proposals: “We are three artists from Córdoba who traveled together and the truth is that it was a wonderful experience; we are very proud to represent our country in this global event,” she said by phone.
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The format of the fair is mixed, with galleries presenting their artists and independent artists traveling to exhibit their work. In their work, the three artists focus on the female figure and nature: Pabon Morales is dedicated to painting women in natural environments, Saina paints women in different environments and Patricia Márquez focuses on organic art.
The QIAF’s range of topics is broad, with a focus on climate change awareness projects and art to protect biodiversity. However, a phenomenon stood out in the exhibition pavilion: “More than 500 artists from all over the world participate, but the truth is that, in general, more women were seen in the exhibition than men,” revealed Pabon Morales.
Deep-rooted customs and respect
The exhibition in a country with “very deep-rooted religions and customs,” as Pabon Morales defines it, offered a different cultural setting. Although Qatar is “very modern” and women are becoming more involved in various fields, certain dress standards remain.
“Here, for example, we cannot show shoulders, let alone legs, that is not accepted,” explained the artist. Although the tourist enjoys greater flexibility, those attending the event were asked to remain cautious: “They asked us to be a little more careful in some things. To cover our shoulders, to cover our legs, to wear long things.”
Despite these adjustments, the experiences for the artists were more than positive. Pabon Morales highlighted the treatment: “We felt very good and very respected. The truth is that everyone here is very helpful and the respect towards us was absolute. We felt very comfortable. We just have to respect the local customs.”
With more than 1,500 works exhibited daily, QIAF 2025 confirmed in a new edition its role as a professional platform for promoting artistic developments in a global environment, showing that the universal language of art continues to build bridges despite cultural differences.
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