Community

P8
P16
Community
Registration
for the Ajyal
Jury is open
until October 25, you
must be between
the ages of 8 and 21.
Community
International
soca superstar
Kevin Lyttle
is coming to Crystal
Club W Doha bringing
his signature vibe next
week.
Thursday, September 8, 2016
Dhul-Hijja 6, 1437 AH
DOHA
33°C—41°C TODAY
LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE 11
COVER
STORY
REFLECTIONS: One of Efflatoun’s paintings on farmers from Egypt. Despite all the odds, the late
Egyptian painter showed courage and self-discipline to keep her artistic production thriving.
Decoding
Efflatoun
Mathaf’s Focus on iconic Egyptian painter,
the late Inji Efflatoun, revisited a major
chapter in the region’s art history. P4-5
EID COLLECTION
SANASAFINAZ
GULAHMED KHAADI JUNAIDJAMSHED CHARIZMA
ALKARAM ALMIRAH
• WOMEN WEAR • KIDS WEAR • MEN’S READYMADE • TEXTILE MATERIAL FOR MALE / FEMALE • LADIES & GENTS TAILORING FECILITIES • ACCESSORIES • WESTERN WEAR
• TOYS • PERFUME • BAGS • COSMETICS • FOOT WEAR • JEWELRY • WATCHES
LOCATION :
PUZZLES 12 & 13
Old Airport road, Next to Qatar Airways Tower 1
2
GULF TIMES Thursday, September 8, 2016
COMMUNITY
ROUND & ABOUT
PRAYER TIME
Fajr
Shorooq (sunrise)
Zuhr (noon)
Asr (afternoon)
Maghreb (sunset)
Isha (night)
3.59am
5.17am
11.32am
3.00pm
5.49pm
7.18pm
USEFUL NUMBERS
Emergency
999
Worldwide Emergency Number
112
Kahramaa – Electricity and Water
991
Local Directory
180
International Calls Enquires
150
Hamad International Airport
40106666
Labor Department
44508111, 44406537
Mowasalat Taxi
44588888
Qatar Airways
44496000
Hamad Medical Corporation
44392222, 44393333
Qatar General Electricity and
Water Corporation
44845555, 44845464
Primary Health Care Corporation
44593333
44593363
Qatar Assistive Technology
Centre
44594050
Qatar News Agency
44450205
44450333
Q-Post – General Postal
Corporation
44464444
Humanitarian Services Office
(Single window facility for the repatriation of bodies)
Ministry of Interior
40253371, 40253372,
40253369
Ministry of Health
40253370, 40253364
Hamad Medical Corporation
40253368, 40253365
Qatar Airways
40253374
ote Unquote
u
Q Once you
replace negative
thoughts with positive
ones, you’ll start having
positive results.
— Willie Nelson
Community Editor
Kamran Rehmat
e-mail: community@gulf-times.com
Telephone: 44466405
Fax: 44350474
EVENTS
Treasure Hunt at Museum of Islamic Art
DATE: Sept 14
TIME: 12pm
VENUE: Museum of Islamic Art
During Eid al-Adha holiday, don’t miss an exciting treasure
Film Screening
DATE: September 24
TIME: 8pm
VENUE: Katara
Ran is the story of the tyrant
warlord Hidetora and the
deterioration of his kingdom
after he decides to hand power
over to his sons. While Kurosawa
preferred to make little use of
music in his films, when he did
use it the results were striking.
Ran provides a particularly
electrifying example during its
great battle sequence, when
Kurosawa chooses to silence
the ambient sound, leaving only
composer Tôru Takemitsu’s
music to accompany the visuals.
hunt for all the family to enjoy, taking place at the Museum of
Islamic Art. To register rsvptreasurehunt@qm.org.qa
Please include your name and mobile number. Registration
will also be open from 10:30am to 11:30am at the museum on
the day of the event. Registration costs QR50 per group. Each
group can have a maximum of five people, with at least one
adult and one child over the age of 5.
Doha Youth Choir
And Doha Junior
Choir Auditions
DATE: September 17
TIME: 10am to 12pm
LOCATION: Doha
College Al Waab
Doha Youth Choir
has a limited numbers
of spaces for singers
aged 14 and above, and
preference will be given
to the lower voices(alto,
tenor and bass). Doha
Junior Choir is also
recruiting singers aged 8
to 12 years. Both choirs
rehearse twice weekly and are structured
so that the singers can become good
Mall Cinema (1): Pete’s
Dragon (2D) 11am; Baar Baar
Dekho (Hindi) 1pm; Actor In
Law (Urdu) 3:45pm; Taht El
Tarabiza (Arabic) 5:45pm;
Pete’s Dragon (2D) 7:45pm;
Ben-Hur (2D) 9:30pm; Ben-Hur
(2D) 11.30pm.
Mall Cinema (2): Ben-Hur
(2D) 11:30am; Light’s Out (2D)
1:30pm; Bilal: A New Breed Of
Hero (2D) 3pm; Pete’s Dragon
(2D) 5pm; Light’s Out (2D)
7pm; Baar Baar Dekho (Hindi)
8:30pm; Iru Mugan (Tamil)
11pm.
Mall Cinema (3): Freaky Ali
(Hindi) 11am; Janaan (Urdu)
1pm; Freaky Ali (Hindi) 3:15pm;
Ann Maria (Malayalam)
5:30pm; Sully (2D) 7:45pm;
Ashan Khargeen -Arabic (2D)
9:30pm; Sully (2D) 11:30pm.
Royal Plaza Cinema Palace
(1): Ben-Hur (2D) 11am; Actor
In Law (Urdu) 1pm; Pete’s
Dragon (2D) 3pm; Ann Maria
(Malayalam) 5pm; Pete’s
Dragon (2D) 7:15pm; Ben-Hur
(2D) 9pm; Iru Mugan (Tamil)
11pm.
Royal Plaza Cinema Palace
(2): Pete’s Dragon (2D) 11am;
Baar Baar Dekho (Hindi) 1pm;
Light’s Out (2D) 3:30pm; Taht
El Tarabiza (Arabic) 5pm;
Baar Baar Dekho (Hindi) 7pm;
musicians. For more information, please
email info@dohayouthchoir.com
Light’s Out (2D) 9:45pm; BenHur (2D) 11:15pm.
Royal Plaza Cinema Palace
(3): Sully (2D) 11:30am; Bilal:
A New Breed Of Hero (2D)
1:30pm; Bilal: A New Breed
Of Hero (2D) 3:30pm; Freaky
Ali (Hindi) 5:30pm; Sully (2D)
7:30pm; Ashan Khargeen
-Arabic (2D) 9:30pm; Sully (2D)
11:30pm.
Asian Town Cinema: Iru
Mugan (Tamil) 12:30, 1:30, 3:30,
4:30, 7:30, 8:45, 10:30, 11:45pm,
1am & 2.:30am; Baar Baar
Dekho (Hindi) 12:30, 5:30 &
11pm; Ann Maria (Malayalam)
12:30, 3, 5:30, 8, 10:30pm, 1 &
1:45am; Pretham (Malayalam)
3:15, 6:30 & 8:30pm.
Thursday, September 8, 2016
BOOKS
10
3
COMMUNITY
ROUND & ABOUT
top
GULF TIMES
MOVIES
1. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
2. The Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins
3. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom
Riggs
4. Selp-Helf by Miranda Sings
5. The Bamboo Stalk by Saud Al Sanousi
6. The Amazing Book Is Not On Fire by Dan Howell and Phil
Lester
7. Animal Kingdom by Millie Marotta
8. Querkles Masterpieces by Thomas Pavitte
9. Diary of Wimpy Kid – The Long Haul by Jeff Kinney
10. Girl Online: On Tour by Zoe Sugg
TV-SERIES
1. The Way Way Back
2. Pride & Prejudice & Zombies
3. Descendants
4. Mad Max: Fury Road
5. Gambit
6. Love, Rosie
7. DOA: Dead or Alive
8. Fright Night
9. Avengers: Age of Ultron
10. Whiplash
MUSIC
1. Various Artists: Now 94 Db
2. Maher Zain: One
3. Adele: 25
4. Ariana Grande: Dangerous Woman
5. Radiohead: Moon Shaped Pool
6. Enrique Iglesias: Insomniac
7. Led Zeppelin: Houses of the Holy
8. Rogers Kenny: 21 Number Ones/The
Ultimate Collection
9. Bob Marley: Legend Bo
10. 30 Seconds to Mars: Beautiful Lie
1. Private Practice S5
2. New Girl S1
3. Cougar Town S3
4. Happy Endings S1
5. Burn Notice S4
6. Bones S1-6
7. Glee S2
8. Raising Hope S1
9. Doll House S2
10. Footballers’ Wives S3
Courtesy: Virgin Megastores, Landmark and Villaggio Mall
Live Music
DATE: Until September 31
TIME: 7:30pm-11:30pm
VENUE: Admiral’s Club
Featuring special Irish band
Coelta with two gigs per month,
followed by Over Your Head,
Bluestone, Sand Tunes, Doha Band,
50 Degree, Dave Duchette, Vertuoso,
Jack Daniels Trio and others, only
in Admiral’s, 7:30pm to 11:30pm
Thursdays and Fridays, until
September 30. No entry fee, above
21 years.
shows will feature throughout the
week, Pirates from the Caribbean
will be held at Lagoona Mall.
Eid al-Adha celebrations: The
Pearl-Qatar
DATE: Sept 11- 17
TIME: 6pm
VENUE: The Pearl-Qatar
Celebrate Eid at Porto Arabia,
from Sept 11-17. Kids can enjoy all
the three days of Eid and lets their
imagination flourish.
Dari Qatar
DATE: Ongoing
Doha Film Institute and Qatar
Tourism Authority have embarked
on an ambitious mission of
producing an unprecedented
documentary – ‘Dari Qatar’ – a
personal journey through Qatar,
about you, for you, filmed by all
of you. ‘Dari Qatar’ is an intimate,
engaging portrayal of Qatar
today; a refreshing look at the
nation, told entirely by its public,
revealing the hopes, loves, fears,
dreams and realities of the people
who call Qatar home. ‘Dari Qatar’
will give the world a different
perspective on what it is like
to live in Qatar, with its unique
beauty, its cultural diversity and
its rich Arabic traditions.
A Symphony of Horror
DATE: Sept 22
TIME: 7:30pm
VENUE: Katara Opera House
This concert is part of the
Symphony of Films series, in
Partnership with Doha Film
Institute and the British Council.
Get info on this website to
book your show. http://www.
dohafilminstitute.com/events/dficinema
Beauty & The Beast
DATE: Sept 11-17
TIME: 4pm
VENUE: Dar Al-Salam Mall
The Eid celebrations will offer a
variety of daily family entertainment
shows. Exclusive live entertainment
shows will feature throughout the
week, Beauty & The Beast will be
held at Dar Al Salam Mall.
Pirates from the Caribbean
DATE: Sept 11- 17
TIME: 4pm
VENUE: Lagoona Mall
The Eid celebrations will offer a
variety of daily family entertainment
shows. Exclusive live entertainment
Tarzan Screening
DATE: Sept 11-17
TIME: 4pm
VENUE: City Center
The Eid celebrations will
offer a variety of daily family
entertainment shows. Exclusive
live entertainment shows will
feature throughout the week,
Tarzan will be held at City Centre.
Doha Beauty Show
DATE: Oct 20-22
TIME: 10am
VENUE: Doha Exhibition and
Convention Center
Qatar’s first Doha Beauty Show
will be held from 20th to 22nd of
October at the Doha Exhibition
and Convention Center. The Doha
Beauty Show is the first of its kind
event in Qatar that is dedicated
to local and international trade
and beauty professionals as well
as local consumers. The threeday show focuses on four pillars
in the beauty industry, including
Cosmetics & Fragrance, Spa &
Aesthetics, Natural Products and
Hair Care & Nails.
Filipino Community Family
Day
DATE: Sept 13-15
TIME: 10am
VENUE: Westin Hotel 7 Spa,
Doha
Kulinarya Qatar is inviting
everyone to attend the annual
Filipino Community Day &
Food Festival to be held from
September 13 to 15 from 10am10pm at the Westin Hotel and Spa.
The event will feature Filipino
food restaurants and different
international
stalls, Filipino and local
products, cultural shows,
kids activities, games cooking
competitions, workshops and
other exciting programmes.
Climate Change Programme
DATE: Today
TIME: 10am
VENUE: Maktaba Qatar, Al
Mabahej & Saha 33, Doha
Are you looking for a programme
that helps your child understand
how and why our climate is
changing? The programme
“Climate Change’’ is designed
for children 7-14 years old to
introduce them to the causes and
effects of the climate change and
what people can do to slow the
change and prepare for it. Each
session is based on games, science
activities and triggering their
curiosity to make research and
work on projects.
Aspire Splash and Dash
DATE: Every Sunday and
Wednesday
TIME: 7pm-9pm
VENUE: Aspire Dome
The athletics track and
swimming pool will be open for
50 participants aged seven years
and above per session and facility.
Swimming skills are mandatory
for registering at the swimming
sessions with a limited number of
50 participants per session. The
event is open to public registration
on-site from 6 to 7:45pm.
Doha Sightseeing
DATE: Ongoing
TIME: 9am-9pm
VENUE: Around Doha
Doha Bus is Qatar’s first Hopon Hop-off sight-seeing bus tour,
providing both local residents and
visiting tourists a flexible way to
discover the country’s vibrant past,
present and future. Each Doha
Bus tour highlights a variety of
interesting locations throughout this
fast changing landscape including
Souq Waqif, The Pearl, Villaggio as
well as The Museum of Islamic Art.
Doha Bus enhances the sightseeing
experience with seven different
language options to choose from
as well as group discounts, private
coach tours and corporate outings.
Doha Bus is a fun, interactive and
highly education experience for every
traveller.
Combination of Sun, Sand and
Surfing
DATE: Ongoing
VENUE: Aqua Park
For the first time ever in Qatar,
it will be possible to ride up curved
sidewalls at 90 degrees to the
direction of the water flow. Giving
visitors and especially surfing
fanatics an amazing experience
available at only one place in Qatar
Aqua Park.
Come join us and also take
advantage of the extra free ticket you
get anytime you buy two Stingray
Tickets.
Garage Gallery
DATE: Until Nov 1
TIME: 8pm
VENUE: Spaces at the Fire Station
The Artists in Residence exhibition
is a culmination of an intensive ninemonth programme, featuring works
by 18 local contemporary artists who
have been working in the artist’s
studios and spaces at the Fire Station
since September 2015. The exhibition
showcases new work and projects
created by the artists during their
residency period, shedding light on
the development of their innovative
ideas and diverse studio practices.
Photographic, sculptural, and
installation based artworks fill the
Garage Gallery and showcase these
talented artists.
Cake Decoration Classes
DATE: Morning and evening
VENUE: Tavola Royal Plaza, Al
Saad Street
Tavola offers a range of cake
decorating and kitchen skills classes.
Tavola is the only authorised Wilton
method provider in the Middle East.
Vacation Competition
DATE: Until September 21
VENUE: FCC Office
Women’s forum of Friends
Cultural Centre has announced
competitions for Qatar-based
Malayalee students of grades IV–
XII. There are two competitions
including Avadhikkalath an
article on vacation experiences
and Avadhikkalakazhchakal, on
photography. Article on vacation
experiences should be prepared
in Malayalam or in English with a
minimum of 500 words. Photographs
for the competition should be
printed on A4 size art paper or photo
paper. Pictures should not have
been published before and should
not be downloaded from internet.
Entries for competitions need to be
submitted to FCC Office on or before
21 September 2016. More details can
be obtained by contacting telephone
number 44661213.
FOODIE CHOICE
RESTAURANT: Choices
LOCATION: Oryx Rotana
Oryx Rotana invites you and your
loved ones to share the magical
atmosphere of celebration and
joy this Eid al-Adha. Join them
at Choices restaurant and enjoy
sumptuous brunch buffet during
the first three days of Eid from
12:30pm until 4pm. Eid al-Adha
brunch price starts from QR189 for
soft drinks.
Compiled by Nausheen Shaikh. E-mail: gtlisting@gmail.com, Events and timings subject to change
4
GULF TIMES Thursday, September 8, 2016
COMMUNITY
COVER STORY
‘I was touched by Efflatoun’s
courage and determination’
Leonore-Namkha Beschi, Assistant Curator at Mathaf, shares her perspective on the
works of Inji Efflatoun, the pioneer of modern Egyptian art. By Umer Nangiana
IN RETROSPECT: Leonore-Namkha Beschi says as part of Mathaf she is witnessing the unveiling of region’s history.
A
relatively young
institution yet a host
of large collections
of regional and
international art,
Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern
Art is uncovering the history
of the region. It has amassed
contemporary and modern
collections from regional and
international artists “that are
in dialogue with each and in
continuity with what can be
described an Arab Modernity.”
Leonore-Namkha Beschi,
Assistant Curator at Mathaf,
says it is important not to look
at the collection with the eyes of
a Westerner or from a Western
understanding of art history.
Speaking to Community, Beschi
says Mathaf: Arab Museum of
Modern Arts is a fairly young
institution that is currently building
its collection, developing its research
through the Mathaf Encyclopaedia
and presenting a range of artistic
practices from the Arab World
through a number of permanent and
temporary exhibitions.
“We, as part of the institution,
are witnessing and unveiling the
history of this region, whether we
decide to define it as the GCC, the
Levant of the Menasa (Middle East,
North Africa, South Asia). This is a
context full of complexity to evolve
in and a unique opportunity to be
part of,” says the curator.
She recently held a talk on
Inji Efflatoun, the pioneer of
modern Egyptian art, and her
works at Mathaf, and curated an
exhibition called Mother Tongue
on Efflatoun’s work earlier in Focus,
the exhibition showcasing five
different regional artists’ works.
Speaking about Mother Tongue,
she says her favourite moments in
the exhibition was a paradoxical
juxtaposition in the gallery
space of two important pieces,
Efflatoun’s Self-Portrait and Fellaha
in a Moment of Reflection, both
painted in 1958.
The paintings narrate two
diametrical visions of Efflatoun’s
personal reality. On one hand,
her self-portrait can be perceived
by the elite as a classic, nostalgic
and ideal depiction of the artist
inside her studio. Possibly the
translation of a form of entrapment
and fakeness imposed to the
artist by the Cairene elite. On the
other hand, Beschi says the work
portraying a farmer (Fellaha), out
in the field and anxious about
an unsettling future, embody
Efflatoun’s actual preoccupations
and will become a recurring theme
in her artistic practice.
This particular work is a prime
example of the artist’s unceasing
effort to relate to Egypt, which
is literally depicted as “the mother
of the world” (Um al-Dunya) by its
own people.
When asked to curate for Focus,
Beschi says as a curator she was
first curious to identify a feminine
figure with such an eventful life,
rich in personal tragedies and
pivotal moments embedded in the
history of the region, that it seemed
almost as if taken from a novel.
“With that approach in mind, I was
fascinated by the powerful work of
Inji Efflatoun and touched by her
courage and self-determination,”
says the curator.
The first pieces she saw from
Efflatoun’s works were her series
of “Portrait of women behind
bars (1959,1960 and 1963).”
In June 1959, Efflatoun’s political
and feminist activities got her
arrested and incarcerated until
1963. Four years during which
she continued painting thanks to
her ability to convince the prison
director to sell her work at his own
profit.
“Efflatoun showed courage and
self-discipline to keep her artistic
Thursday, September 8, 2016
GULF TIMES
5
COMMUNITY
COVER STORY
As a painter, a feminist and a political activist, Efflatoun was filled with
the urge to investigate her own heritage and connect with the Egyptian
people, says the curator.
A file photo of the late Inji Efflatoun.
Mother Tongue, selected work by Inji Efflatoun, displayed as part of Focus
works from Mathaf Collection. The exhibition ended in August. Image
courtesy: Mathaf Arab Museum of Modern Art
production thriving. The prison
system became an endless source
of inspiration to practice her art
and allowed the reaffirmation of
her aesthetics in series of prisoner’s
portraits and landscapes behind
bars,” says Beschi.
She first began depicting
her inmates with intense facial
expressions, capturing the traces
of the hardship of life in their
eyes. And then she transitioned to
reference nature and the outside
world in her paintings, expressing
her longing for freedom.
The curator says it is inherent
to the curatorial process to feel
somehow “connected” with each
artist you work with. The furthest
your research goes, the more you
get a glimpse at their world and feel
invested in sharing your findings
with the audience, whether through
your writings or in the layout of
the exhibition. “In this case, I was
determined to emphasise on the
importance of her time spent in
prison on her artistic practice, as
she is mostly known for her later
work referencing to the ‘white
period’,” says Beschi.
However, working on the body of
work of an artist that is no longer
alive definitely requires a different
approach and methodology to the
subject. Most of the challenges
come when the information about
the artist and the work are scarce or
in a different language.
“This can affect the hierarchy of
the information when anecdotes
are interpreted in a way that
history is ‘rewritten’ or simply
lost in translation,” says Beschi,
adding that it requires a thorough
analysis of the information found
via other sources than the artist
such as the family estate, galleries,
institutions and previous writings,
for instance, and to focus on the
curatorial perspective that you wish
to translate in the exhibition.
For Efflatoun’s exhibition, Beschi
says her main points of reference
The prison system became an endless source of inspiration for Efflatoun to practise her art.
were numerous conversations
with Nadia Radwan, Assistant
Professor in World Art History
at the University of Bern, who
researched on the artist and wrote
Efflatoun’s biography for the
Mathaf Encyclopaedia as well as
the Memoirs of Inji Efflatoun: From
Childhood to Prison first published
in 1993 and never translated from
Arabic to this date.
Efflatoun’s upper middle class
origins, she says, made her feel
unrooted and captive of an elitist
upbringing for which she developed
a forceful sense of resistance, as
depicted in her Egyptian working
force portraits.
As a painter, a feminist and a
political activist, she was filled
with the urge to investigate her
own heritage and connect with
the Egyptian people. “Efflatoun
belonged to this generation of
women who witnessed the social
and political transformation of the
Egyptian society, but also initiated
these changes by their activism and
positions towards human rights,”
says the curator of Mother Tongue.
She became alongside her
peer Doria Shafik, a philosopher,
poet and writer, a leading figure
of Egyptian feminism. Women
of Efflatoun’s generation were
successors to the legacy of Egyptian
intellectuals such as Huda Shaarawi
(1879-1947) or Saiza Nabarawi
(1897-1985) who paved the way to
a reflection about social justice,
women’s right and the role of art in
the construction of a nation.
The fertility of its lands and the
river Nile, cultivated and harvested
by the agricultural labour force, are
a quintessential symbol of Egyptian
nationalism. Her numerous
encounters with agricultural
families from Upper Egypt living
humble lives, were decisive in
instigating the convictions that Inji
Efflatoun is known for and drove her
ambition not to become a stranger to
her own culture and identity.
6
GULF TIMES Thursday, September 8, 2016
COMMUNITY
Collective Exhibition 2016
opens at Anima Gallery today
By Anand Holla
R
olling out the new
season in style, Anima
Gallery, The Pearl, has
announced Collective
Exhibition 2016, an
exhibition of nine contemporary
artists from Lebanon, Japan,
Germany, Taiwan, Spain, and Iran,
which opens today (Thursday) and
is on through October 30.
Featuring top artistes such as
Peter Zimmermann, Ali Hassan,
Masakatsu Sashie, Said Baalbaki,
Tsi Wei Chen, Aurora Canero,
Starsky Brines, Kambiz Sharif,
and Timo Nasseri, the exhibition
is sure to draw a big crowd in the
coming days. Anima Gallery gives
us a lowdown on the artists whose
works will adorn its bright white
walls, starting today.
Noted German contemporary
abstract artist Zimmermann
has been most feted for his blob
paintings and book cover paintings.
Zimmermann’s way of working –
his medium essentially involves
airbrushing combined with digital
arts – is rather peculiar. Often
drawing his source material from
texts or book covers, he scans them
into his computer, tweaks them
using Photoshop and other such
digital manipulation toolboxes,
and eventually gets the resultant
image onto a canvas, which bears
nearly no resemblance to the source
image.
Following application of
“numerous strata of pigmented and
dyed acrylic resin to the support,”
he transforms the contents into
“palpable and mellifluous bodies”
of light and colour. In an interview
earlier this year, Zimmermann had
told Community, “In the beginning,
I was very careful about trying
to find a balance between hardly
recognising the source image and
retaining its traces as hints. As time
went by, I thought that I could more
or less do away with the origin, the
source image. So what I have tried
to focus on is to have an interesting
abstraction which works as a
painting itself.”
Born in 1974 in city of Kanazawa
in Ishikawa Prefecture, Masakatsu
Sashie’s signature orb paintings
of the “fictional world, filled with
futuristic warnings about human’s
tendencies for environmental
dominance and over-consumption,”
are as much a source for wide-eyed
wonder as they are a trigger for a
flood of questions, curiosities and
concerns.
Sashie’s gently-floating massive
orbs are created out of scraps of old
constructions from the Showaperiod – a period of enlightened
peace and harmony, period of
radiant Japan during the time
A lizard and a frog desire for artificial things that hover in air as orbs, in two of Sashie’s paintings.
of reign of the Shōwa Emperor,
Hirohito, from 1926 to 1989 – and
pieces of mass production and mass
consumption culture, explains
a note on the exhibition. Things
like vending machines, pachinko
parlours or fast food signs and
video game components are woven
into Masakatsu’s imagery in his orb
painting.
Lebanese artist Said Baalbaki
explores themes of historical
accuracy, institutional power
and social memory feature
in his artwork. Painter and
interdisciplinary artist Baalbaki
is based in Berlin. Initially known
for painted works that drew on
his experiences as a child during
the Lebanese Civil War and Israeli
occupation, Baalbaki’s paintings,
often devoid of people, portray piles
of items such as suitcases, shoes,
clothing and other belongings,
symbolising lost, unrecorded and
forgotten stories of history.
A conceptual shift in Baalbaki’s
work occurred in 2006 when
he began to examine the role of
museums and institutions in
guiding dominant perceptions of
history. His ongoing project ‘Al
Buraq’ is a fictional museum display
charting the discovery of remains
of the winged horse with a human
head that is part of the Islamic
tradition.
Aurora Canero has been working
in bronze for more than 30 years.
Born and educated in Spain, she
creates poetic and whimsical
meditations on the human spirit.
Her figures transcend the physical
properties of solidified metal
and take on a life and emotional
character to themselves. They are
constantly confronting a moment
of truth, whether about themselves
or the world surrounding them, and
emanate a mysterious trepidation
between what just happened, a past
barely hinted at, and what is going
to happen next.
Timo Nasseri began his artistic
career as a photographer. Born in
Berlin in 1972 to a German mother
and an Iranian father, Nasseri,
in 2004, made the transition to
creating sculpture. Combining
Islamic and western cultural
heritages, his work is inspired
as much by specific memories
and religious references as by
universal archetypes described by
mathematics and language, and the
inner truths of form and rhythm.
Born in 1978 in Tabriz, Iran,
Kambiz Sharif, during his teenage
years, developed an interest in
art, taking pictures and drawing
sketches and using different
materials, clay, wood, etc. to make
models. From 1992 to 1996, he
attended the Mirak Arts School in
Tabriz, earning his Art Diploma.
After graduation, Sharif moved to
Tehran where he opened a studio
and began working in sculpture
A piece by Said Baalbaki, Heap (1).
full-time, using form to express
his thoughts and feelings. Sharif
opened his own sculptural school
in 2001 with classes in clay, wood,
stone, and in bronze casting. Sharif
migrated to Vancouver, Canada,
just over two years ago, and has
started a new life, opening a studio
in Vancouver where he continues
his sculptural practice.
Taiwan’s Tsi Wei Chen, in
the process of making artistic
creation, always tries to get rid of
the habitual rational judgement,
and with a different angle, uses
his heart to experience the
inspiration given by the people,
events, and objects of surrounding
reality. When an artistic creation
takes shape gradually with the
rise and fall of thought in one’s
mind, one can discover the beauty
constantly during the process,
believes Chen.
Thursday, September 8, 2016
GULF TIMES
7
COMMUNITY
Behind the decks, Kinky D simply never fails to deliver.
Mixing old school with disco
By Umer Nangiana
M
ixing old school
with cool disco,
soul and funk, Doha
Hustle by Kinky
D is once again
bringing a night of fun at Nozomi.
Returning fresh after the Eid break,
the Doha Hustle will welcome the
funky audience on September 12
with Kinky D accompanied by
Mayan Fayaz and guest DJs behind
the deck.
Establishing herself as a DJ back
in 1994, Kinky D’s ever-growing
reputation and continuing success
has seen her become a solid
contender upon the global music
scene.
Behind the decks Kinky D
simply never fails to deliver. Her
exceptional technical skills and
variety of music – ranging from
RnB, Soul, Hip-Hop, Disco and
House, Top 40, Afro Beats, UK/
US Garage, to Old Skool Club and
Party Classics, combined with a
statuesque persona and that added
personable effervescent touch make
her stand out and leave a lasting
memory.
These days she’s bringing it to the
masses, not only in her home-base
of London with her high demand
on the club scene, including
appearances at the Ministry Of
Sound, Fabric, China White and The
End, but also with performances
as far reaching as Mexico, The
Dominican Republic, Thailand,
Australia, Russia, South Korea,
much of Europe and The UAE.
Kinky D’s mastering of her art
continues to see her also booked for
many high profile and prestigious
global corporate events including
the MTV Block Party, W Hotels
(Doha and South Korea), Chandon,
Vertu, Claridges, Harvey Nichols’
and, for the past six years, at the
Cannes Film Festival.
This latter benchmark has
propelled her yet further still,
seeing her become the resident
DJ and Music Director for the
Abu Dhabi Film Festival for three
consecutive years.
Alongside her personal
appearances, as a broadcaster
Kinky D has reached an even
wider audience with her extensive
repertoire, amassing over 800
hours with her own radio show
‘Xcess With Kinky D’ on BBC Radio
1Xtra.
This led on to her bringing her
hosting and producing skills further
to the fore with her more of her
own shows on well-known London
FM stations Urban Fresh, Rhythm
FM, Unknown FM and currently on
www.back2backfm.net.
She has worked alongside
some of the top names within the
industry, including Kelis, Scissor
Sisters, 50 Cent, Todd Terry, and
the MOBO Award winners Steve
Sutherland and Manny Norte. In
the past twelve months her work
has also encompassed playing
alongside Motown legends The
Supremes and The Temptations.
She also played at the opening of
Plan B’s debut film Ill Manors, as
well as headlining in Cannes Film
Festival with Kelis and in Doha
at Reggae Sun Splash with Maxi
Priest.
Born and raised in Egypt, Mayan
Fawaz or DJ Mayounah is one of
Egypt’s first homegrown female DJ
talents. Having had appreciation
for quality house music and a
keen eye for tracks that inspire
people and fill dance floors, Fawaz
decided to pursue a career in DJing
after having been inspired by
Dubfire (one part of the then DJ
duo Deep Dish) during her stay in
Washington, DC 2005-2006.
After returning to Cairo and
practicing behind the scenes for
years, she first spun the decks in
Cairo nightspot Sangria, and played
in other hot Cairo venues such as
Club 35, the Cairo Jazz Club and the
Nile Kempinski’s Jazz Bar as well as
countless house parties.
She has also played in
4Theloveofhouse launch in Gouna,
Egypt’s first dance music brand
which she manages. Fawaz has
spun alongside some of Egypt’s top
names in the DJ industry, including
DJ Amir Sharara, DJ Amr Hosny, DJ
Ashibah and Natalia Barbin.
Describing her sound as “sassy
Kinky D and other DJs will entertain the funky crowd at Nozomi on September 12.
tech house with a twist of nudisco”,
Fawaz has kept her finger on the
pulse of Egypt’s music scene, with
an enviable music portfolio that
credits her with having introduced
several stellar underground tracks
to Cairo parties months before they
make it big on the international DJ
landscape.
In 2010, Mayan Fawaz launched
a DJ-centric blog “The Music
Last Night” that tackled DJ sets
and critiqued their performances
at various venues she’d visited.
Witty, snarky and straight to the
point, Fawaz’s blog posts have
spread panic among many veteran
DJs but also highlighted the best
in upcoming talent and other DJrelated news.
Her blog was picked up by several
media outlets, including a record
label which she wrote for and the
very popular gossip sites Cairo
Gossip and Scene & Heard, and
welcomed by many partygoers fed
up with the standard party music
formulas.
8
GULF TIMES Thursday, September 8, 2016
COMMUNITY
Applications for
Ajyal Jury now open
The deadline to apply to one of the three age-based juries is October 25
By Anand Holla
T
hree successful editions
of Doha Film Institute’s
(DFI) Ajyal Youth Film
Festival has proven that
Qatar’s home-grown
event that unfailingly charms
children, youth and families alike,
has only grown from strength
to strength in its run-up to the
upcoming fourth edition – and the
young jurors have a big part to play
in that success.
From November 30 to December
5, Ajyal, in its new and improved
fourth instalment is set to build on
DFI’s history of community-based
film programming, the success of
the Festival’s previous editions,
as well as a year-round screening
series. “The heart of the Festival
is the Ajyal Jury,” DFI says, “which
provides young film enthusiasts
with access to films and filmmakers
from all over the world in a fun,
collaborative environment where
you can express your thoughts and
ideas.”
During the seven-day
programme, the Ajyal Jury will
inspire “creative thinking, cooperation and critical thinking and
– most importantly – will lead to
lasting friendships among jurors”.
Last year, Ajyal welcomed 450
young jurors of 45 nationalities,
from the ages of eight to 21. If you
would like your child to be one of
them this year, you can apply for
one of the three Ajyal Competition
juries, based on three age groups,
explains DFI.
Mohaq means ‘New Moon’
in Arabic, and these are Ajyal’s
youngest jurors, aged 8 to 12. The
young people of this jury will watch
a programme of short films and four
feature-length films. Hilal, which
Jurors attend ‘In Conversation’ session with Arab Idol winner (2012) Mohammed Assaf and director Hany Abu-Assad, at last year’s Ajyal.
means ‘Crescent Moon’ in Arabic,
will be made up by Ajyal’s jurors
aged 13 to 17. Five feature films and
a programme of shorts make up the
Hilal jury’s festival programme.
The most mature of Ajyal’s juries,
Bader – which means ‘Full Moon’
in Arabic – jurors are aged 18 to 21
and will select their favourite films
from five features and a programme
of short films.
Registration for the Ajyal Jury is
open until October 25 – you must
be between the ages of 8 and 21 to
join the Ajyal Jury.
The competition line-up at Ajyal
2015 comprised feature films from
20 countries and a series of short
film programmes. Jurors aged 8
to 12 watched one programme of
short films and four feature-length
films in Mohaq; those aged 13 to 17
evaluated five feature films and a
programme of shorts in Hilal; and
jurors aged 18 to 21 adjudged five
feature films and two programmes
of short films in Bader. The Jury
also included a delegation of 24
international jurors who travelled to
Doha for the event from 12 countries
including Australia, Bahrain, Bosnia
and Herzegovina, Iraq, Italy, Kuwait,
Lebanon, Oman, Serbia, Turkey and
the United Arab Emirates.
Meanwhile, DFI says it is keen
to build a pool of performers in
Qatar and has welcomed aspiring
and established actors who are
interested in being considered for
roles in projects produced through
the Institute’s Qatari Film Fund.
“We encourage residents of all ages,
nationalities and experience levels
to apply. For the project currently
in production, we are seeking
men, women and children of Arab
descent who can speak with a Gulf
accent. We are also actively looking
for people of all nationalities for
DFI’s casting database,” DFI says
about its casting call, “This is a
Doha Film Institute CEO Fatma al-Remaihi welcomes Ajyal Jurors on stage at the closing night of the last year’s Ajyal festival.
great opportunity to join a growing
filmmaking community in Qatar.”
The submission requirements
mandate sending the following
essential documents in Word or
PDF format to qff-productions@
dohafilminstitute.com: Recent
headshot, cover letter – tell us
about yourself, CV, and copy
of Qatar Passport or Qatar
Residence Permit. The deadline
for submission is October 1.
“Following the processing
of submissions, successful
candidates will be contacted via
e-mail and invited to audition
sessions,” DFI says.
Thursday, September 8, 2016
GULF TIMES
9
COMMUNITY
New menu at La Villa from September 15
La Villa restaurant at Mercure Hotel is getting a new menu starting September 15, Kumudu
Fonseka, the acting general manager of the hotel said in a press conference recently.
The restaurant will offer a wide variety of dishes, eastern and western, and the menu has been
dubbed as ‘Silk Road’ by the hotel. Chef Darsha Fernando explained the various dishes that will be
part of the new menu, from soup to starters to main courses and desserts.
The acting general manager added that they are also launching a take away menu, 24-hour menu
and a pizza menu. Moreover, five Qatari dishes are also being added to the La Villa menu.
Stenden University
Qatar organises orientation
for new students
Stenden University Qatar organised
orientation for the newly admitted
students last week. Newcomers
benefited from a number of orientation
sessions and activities which were
designed to help them adapt to the
new academic environment and social
environment. Both Bedaya Center and
Doha Film Institute participated in the
event and shared their services with
the new cohort.
Students got the chance to have a
campus tour, meet lecturers, and
learn more about different student
services on campus. They attended
various workshops on study skills
and usage of the facilities. A number
of presentations from the Student
Representative Council, the Alumni
Association, and from different
faculty members were delivered.
The orientation programme also
offered many entertainment
activities and games planned by the
Student Representative Council. The
orientation was a rich experience for
both new and existing students who
participated in the event.
Stenden University Qatar was
established in the year 2000 by Al
Faisal Holding and Stenden University
in the Netherlands. This year the
university celebrated its 15-year
anniversary and so far more than
650 graduates have graduated from
Stenden in Qatar. The university
offers three Dutch-accredited
Bachelor of Business Administration
(BBA) Programmes in International
Business and Management Studies,
International Tourism Management
and International Hospitality
Management. All programmes are
recognised by Qatar’s Ministry of
Education and Higher Education.
Stenden University also has campuses
in the Netherlands, Bali, South Africa,
and Thailand.
Gabriel Fernandes, Director of Sales & Marketing, said that there will be a Pool Brunch on
September 12 and 13 from 10am to 3pm, priced at QR120 for adults and QR60 for children. Guests
can have a swim, enjoy a wide spread buffet with barbecue, there will be games and a live band
for entertainment.
Seen here, from left, are Chef Darsha Fernando, Food & Beverage Manager Thomas Philip, Acting
General Manager Kumudu Fonseka, Executive Chef Lahcen Bimadarne, and Director of Sales
Gabriel Fernandes.
10 GULF TIMES Thursday, September 8, 2016
COMMUNITY
INFOGRAPHIC
Thursday, September 8, 2016
GULF TIMES
11
COMMUNITY
LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE
5 ways to reinvent your garage
T
he garage — it’s that space where
you used to just store your car,
lawn mower, power tools, bikes,
bats and boxes of things you wore
in the 90s. But to say a garage is
only for storage is like saying a truck is only
for hauling dressers and box springs.
From game room to workshop, man cave
to hangout — your garage has the potential
to be anything you want it to be. So if you’re
thinking of redecorating or remodelling your
house, don’t spend all your time picking out
kitchen tile and arguing over what type of
counter looks best — step into your garage
and let yourself dream big.
With the right materials, some creativity
and a little work, you can turn your garage
into the star of the house. How? TV
personality and award-winning interior
designer Anitra Mecadon offers the following
five ideas to get you excited about all the
possibilities.
Toughen up your walls
No matter what you want to do with your
garage, first make sure your walls can stand
up to real life. There’s probably no space in
the house more susceptible to scratches,
scuffs and accidental holes than the garage
— so pick your walls accordingly. Look for
PURPLE Hi-Impact XP made by National
Gypsum for extra wear and tear to resist
everything from car doors opened too close
your stuff is to use a raised lift system which
retracts up into the top levels of your garage
and comes down with a push of a button
when you need something.
Hang it up
There are some things that just don’t
belong in your house but are perfect for
the garage. Just like restaurants that have
walls crowded with collectibles such as
old soda signs, sea anchors and license
plates — garages can follow this same design
concept and personalise a space even more.
Walls also can serve as anchors for storage
systems that hold your tools, bikes, boxes and
equipment. And you can rest assured that
high-performing drywall, like PURPLE HiImpact XP, will stand up to the wear and tear
of hanging up and taking down your tools,
rakes, bikes and more, day after day.
to the wall to the hockey sticks swung a
little too hard. This drywall is embedded
with fibreglass mesh to make it impact and
penetration resistant — and like all PURPLE
drywall, it resists moisture, mold and
mildew.
Make your garage your hideaway
Sometimes you need to get away from it all
— especially from your “honey do” or project
list — and the garage can be where you go,
your hangout, an extension of yourself and a
ARIES
March 21 — April 19
If you’re not sure about something, ask and ask and ask until you
are sure or you know you need to do absolutely nothing! Mercury
retrograde is alive and well and messing up in your sixth house of
hard work, health and well-being.
CANCER
June 21 — July 22
Unless you know you can cover your tracks if a project you have
in the works isn’t working out, don’t even bother starting it today
Cancers.
LIBRA
September 23 — October 22
Venus your ruler in your sign through (September 24) is a huge
bonus for you right now. Unfortunately, its diluted by Mercury the
communicator out of phase in your past karma zone. While falling in
love at first sight is possible, it’s not without its dramas.
CAPRICORN
December 22 — January 19
Avoid work dramas today by simply refusing to get caught up in
whatever office hype is happening around you. You don’t always
have to jump into the fray after all goats.
definite point of pride. Add a snack machine,
fridge, swivel chair or two and big screen TV,
and you and your friends will have it made.
Lift it up
Most people have a lot of stuff to store in
the garage in addition to cars, tools and bikes.
And let’s face it, the more available space you
have, the more likely you’ll find stuff to fill it.
That means you’ll need to get creative with
storage. In addition to shelves and cabinets
attached to the walls, another way to store
TAURUS
April 20 — May 20
Romantically, this is NOT a good time to do much of anything –
especially going on first dates. Online dating is particularly risky with
Mercury out of phase right now. Shoppers beware.
LEO
July 23 — August 22
The Moon in Libra today shines on your third house of
communication and words. Which makes it even more necessary for
you to think before you speak Leos.
SCORPIO
October 23 — November 21
If you’re not sure about something or someone today Scorpios, don’t
push it through anyway. While you’re known for your stubbornness,
it’s important you don’t do something in spite of all the evidence to
NOT do it.
AQUARIUS
January 20 — February 18
If you are stumped by something or someone today, put on that
fabulous poker face you have and pretend as if you knew about it all
along.
Do more with your floor
Today, garage floors can be anything you
want — yellow, red, metallic, acid-washed or
made out of heavy-duty vinyl or rubber. And
whether you want the grey concrete vintage
look of your childhood or something that
reflects your more grown-up self, when it
comes to garage floors, take a chance and get
inventive, because your garage can be your
personal and customised sanctuary.
© Brandpoint
GEMINI
May 21 — June 20
If in doubt, do absolutely nothing today twins. Mercury retrograde is
in full on blast today and with the Moon in Libra, your fun zone, you
might be tempted to do something that ends up in disaster!
VIRGO
August 23 — September 22
Don’t bother trying to talk someone into thinking along the same
lines you are thinking today. Mercury retrograding in your sign is a
sure sign that no matter what you say, it won’t be received the right
way.
SAGITTARIUS
November 22 — December 21
Today’s Moon shines in Libra, your eleventh house of relationships
and is linked up with Venus the planet of love. If you have been
having some sort of rift with someone, today’s the day to simply let
it go...like a kite.
PISCES
February 19 — March 20
In your joint money zone, Venus and the Moon are cooking up quite
the social experiment for you. Owe someone money? Or someone
owe you? Today’s the day to fix that Pisces.
12 GULF TIMES Thursday, September 8, 2016
COMMUNITY
Wordsearch
Adam
Pooch Cafe
Rocks and Minerals
AGATE
BASALT
BAUXITE
BERYL
DIAMOND
FLINT
GABBRO
GALENA
GNEISS
GOLD
GRANITE
GYPSUM
MICA
OPAL
QUARTZ
RUBY
SCHIST
SHALE
SPINEL
TALC
TOPAZ
Codeword
Puzzles courtesy: Puzzlechoice.com
Every letter of the alphabet is used at least once.
Squares with the same number in have the same letter
in. Work out which number represents which letter.
Garfield
Sudoku
Bound And Gagged
Sudoku is a puzzle based
on a 9x9 grid. The grid is
also divided into nine (3x3)
boxes. You are given a
selection of values and to
complete the puzzle, you
must fill the grid so that
every column, every anone
is repeated.
PUZZLES/CARTOONS
Thursday, September 8, 2016
13
COMMUNITY
PUZZLES
Quick Clues
ACROSS
1. Farewell speech (11)
9. Unusual (3)
10. Replace (9)
11. Lawful (5)
13. Conveyance (7)
14. Perches (6)
16. Mend (6)
18. Emotion (7)
19. Sanctify (5)
20. Needing (9)
21. Alcoholic drink (3)
22. Having good intentions (4-7)
GULF TIMES
Colouring
DOWN
2. Append (3)
3. Artist’s stand (5)
4. Attribute (6)
5. Row of houses (7)
6. Exaggerate (9)
7. Fowl-rearing place (7,4)
8. Daring (11)
12. Bizarre (9)
15. Petty (7)
17. Set alight (6)
19. Started (5)
21. Manage (3)
Cryptic Clues
Answers
Wordsearch
ACROSS
1. Frame of mind of the girl (11)
9. A law-breaking instrument (3)
10. Mountaineer’s hat? (6,3)
11. Number three, perhaps? (5)
13. See, ice does melt (7)
14. Pronounced similarities? (6)
16. Notice who sent the letter? (6)
18. Serious listener at home (7)
19. It’s a profit once more (5)
20. Take apart a girl’s cloak (9)
21. Writer of Post Office English (3)
22. Hair oil put on the soil? (3,8)
DOWN
2. Unwell as I will become shortly (3)
3. His performance may send people
reeling (5)
4. Gives up seat for bears (6)
5. Musical effect that’s a lot more shaky (7)
6. Short race of musicians? (9)
7. What a companionless Frankenstein
could do? (4,7)
8. Visitations that have to be kept up (11)
12. Words to conjure with? (3,6)
15. Green and red meal that’s cooked (7)
17. Work of art that’s unusually astute (6)
19. Declares that Vera’s mad (5)
21. Sleep coming over in the vessel (3)
Codeword
Yesterday’s Solutions
QUICK
Across: 1 Come; 3 Scrapped; 9 Longing; 10
Noted; 11 Brain-washing; 13 Carafe; 15 Player;
17 Unaccustomed; 20 Talon; 21 Trodden; 22
Patience; 23 Glue.
Down: 1 Celibacy; 2 Mania; 4 Cognac; 5
Annihilation; 6 Potency; 7 Dude; 8 Significance;
12 Prudence; 14 Ringlet; 16 Rustic; 18 Model; 19
Stop.
CRYPTIC
Across: 1 Dare; 3 Watchmen; 9 Affront; 10
Bonds; 11 Breadwinners; 13 Airing; 15 Stella; 17
Asphyxiating; 20 Eaten; 21 Inertia; 22 Tool-shed;
23 Bred.
Down: 1 Dead-beat; 2 Rifle; 4 Attain; 5 Cabinetmaker; 6 Mineral; 7 Nosy; 8 Holding hands;
12 Vanguard; 14 Risotto; 16 Excise; 18 Inter; 19
Sect.
14 GULF TIMES Thursday, September 8, 2016
COMMUNITY
REVIEWS
A wonderful surprise
By Rick Bentley
FILM: How to be Single
CAST: Dakota Johnson, Rebel
Wilson, Alison Brie, Leslie Mann,
Damon Wayans Jr
DIRECTION: Christian Ditter
H
ow to be Single is
an example of the
dangerous pitfalls of
judging a movie based
only on the cast list,
movie poster and early trailers.
Going strictly by those elements,
How to be Single looks a chick
flick that relies heavily on bawdy
material to generate laughs.
This kind of assumption comes
from the casting of Rebel Wilson,
who tends to play comedy so over
the top that the jokes often die from
lack of oxygen. The posters make
it look like this is little more than
a big-screen version of Wilson’s
failed TV series, Super Fun Night.
Then there’s Dakota Johnson.
Toss in the hit and miss work of
Leslie Mann and the mousy nature
of Alison Brie and the signs pointed
to a disaster.
How to be Single actually is a
smart, fun and sweet movie.
Despite an all-female starring
cast, it delivers its comments about
relationships in such a full and
inclusive manner that males will be
pulled into the intertwined stories.
It starts with Alice (Johnson), a
law firm employee who is coming
out of a failed relationship. Her best
friend, Robin (Wilson), decides to
help her navigate the choppy waters
of dating. The efforts don’t always
work as Robin speeds through life.
Alice is also dealing with her
single sister, Meg (Mann), whose
relationship with a younger man
leads to a pregnancy.
The last piece of the puzzle is
Lucy (Brie), a woman using logic,
statistics and strategy to find
the right mate. This intellectual
approach keeps her from seeing the
people around her who may really
care for her.
Credit director Christian Ditter
and writers Abby Kohn, Marc
Silverstein and Dana Fox with
keeping this film at such a high
level. There are plenty of humorous
moments, but instead of just relying
on the lowest common factors, each
joke is a smart commentary on life
and love.
This works because Ditter
gets the best performance out of
Johnson of her young career. She’s
as comfortable with the humour as
she is with the deeper emotions. It’s
easy to see this complicated dating
world through her eyes because she
comes across so real and genuine.
The biggest shock is Wilson.
Generally, her performance is so
manic that she quickly becomes
a distraction rather than a comic
asset. Ditter mixes her in at just
the right moment to slam dunk a
joke and then move on. There’s no
feeling that she’s trying to milk the
life out of a funny twist.
Mann’s job is to anchor the story
as the more mature member of
the group. It’s refreshing that her
storyline about an older woman and
a younger man isn’t played as some
type of sleazy play. These are two
complicated people who never have
to resort to over-used sex jokes.
How to be Single is an equal
opportunity film where the male
characters are presented with
depth. The best example is the
single father played by Damon
Wayans Jr. His character is dealing
with a lot of emotional baggage
when it comes to his daughter and
that adds another level to the story.
The weakest link is Brie. Her
character always seems to be on the
fringes. She’s part of the group, but
her work is so far removed that her
story never fully blends with the
others. It’s a weakness, but it’s not
enough to take away from what is
A narrative turn that’s
difficult to swallow
By Tirdad Derakhshani
FILM: The Abandoned
CAST: Louisa Krause, Jason Patric, Mark Margolis
DIRECTION: Eytan Rockaway
J
ulia sees ghosts. A whole variety of ‘em — scary
spectres, plaintive souls, lost children, even a few
playful playmates.
At least she thinks she does, on those dark days
when she doesn’t take her antipsychotic meds.
Played with sympathy and sensitivity by Louisa Krause
(Bluebird, Martha Marcy May Marlene), Julie is the
unlikely hero of the haunted-house yarn The Abandoned,
a tense, subdued, and well-acted creep-fest co-starring
veteran thesps Jason Patric and Mark Margolis.
Loaded with oodles of atmosphere, solid sound design,
and amazing settings, writer-director Eytan Rockaway’s
feature debut also is a hopelessly muddled mess that tries
to go in too many directions.
Krause plays a single mother with mental-health
problems who is on the verge of losing her daughter unless
she gets her life in order. She lands a job as one of two
night guards who watch over an abandoned apartment
building in New York. A massive, cavernous, neoclassical
number filled to the brim with marble, tile, columns, and
crazy frescoes, the setting is the film’s biggest attraction.
“You have to be careful here,” Julie’s boss (Ezra Knight)
tells her as he takes his leave for the night. “Things are
starting to fall apart.”
You don’t know the half of it.
Patric is wonderful as the other guard, a middle-age
misanthrope with a sadistic streak who plays nasty
practical jokes on the newbie.
Soon enough, Julie begins seeing scary apparitions.
Then she discovers a mysterious door, a system of tunnels,
crazy catacombs and a creepy underground dormitory
that used to house mentally disturbed kids.
Despite its formulaic structure, The Abandoned has
a lot going for it. It eschews cheap scares, bloodletting
and gore. Instead, it works the audience with good, oldfashioned suspense. And it has heart.
But it spins out of control in the third act, taking a
narrative turn that’s just too difficult to swallow as it
morphs from a well-executed thriller into a melodramatic
tearjerker. — The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS
a very solid story of love and loss
played against a New York City
backdrop that is so beautifully shot
it looks like a fantasy land.
How to be Single is a wonderful
surprise. It takes a high road in
both comedy and story that makes
it work on multiple levels. More
comedies that focus on one gender
should pay attention to this movie.
The cast and crew deliver from start
to finish. — The Fresno Bee/TNS
Comedy and action
FILM: LEGO Nexo
Knights: Season 1
VOICES: Alessandro
Juliani, Ian Hanlin, Brian
Drummond
DIRECTION: Michael
Dowding, Asaph Fipke
T
he high-tech
Kingdom of
Knighton is in
trouble. The
King’s Jester
has gone rogue and stolen
the strange talking Book
of Monsters. Using its evil
magic, he summons an army
of dangerous Lava Monsters
and attacks. It is up to the
brave but inexperienced
Nexo Knights to come to the
rescue.
In their amazing rolling
castle and with the help of
holographic Wizard Merlok
2.0, they have technology and
Nexo powers, an incredible
new digitised magic, on their side. But the Jester and the Book of Monsters
have a sinister plot that may spell doom over the once peaceful kingdom.
The episodes are pretty neat. It’s a quirky cross between medieval and
space theme.
Anyone who enjoys Lego animated shows such as Ninjago or The
Freemaker Adventures are bound to love this one as well. Even if you’re not a
fan of those and just looking for something light and fun to watch, this will
fit the bill nicely. As with the other Lego shows, this one is filled with plenty
of comedy with just the right amount of action to spice things up to keep
kids and those young at heart into the series.
DVDs courtesy:
Saqr Entertainment Stores, Doha
Thursday, September 8, 2016
GULF TIMES
15
COMMUNITY
SHOWBIZ
Kalki Koechlin to perform
theatrical monologue on
womanhood in New Delhi
A
ctress Kalki Koechlin,
known for her bold
stances on feminism
and commitment
towards women’s
rights and gender equality, will be
presenting a theatrical monologue
titled “wo-manologue” at an event
in New Delhi on September 12.
The function is being
organised by Young FICCI Ladies
Organisation (YFLO) at Federation
House here. “Kalki is known as
much for being a feminist as a
versatile actor ... she is known as an
theatrical monologue artist.
“During her ‘Womanologue’
at the YFLO function she will be
talking about feminism, gender
war, society, men, girl child and
women’s empowerment and dayto-day problems faced by women,”
Trupti Gupta, Chairperson of
YFLO, said in a statement.
Gupta feels that the Dev. D star is
committed to supporting women’s
rights and is vocal about gender
discrimination. “She has spoken
out against child sexual abuse and
has lent her support to various
social campaigns working in the
field of women’s rights and the girl
child. In this regard, she has written
and performed an intense piece
about the truths of womanhood
— an ode to women bound by
patriarchy.
“Her spoken word piece ‘The
Printing Machine circa 2015’ is
about the numbing nature in which
news of violence against women is
both generated and consumed and
the video became hugely popular on
the internet,” Gupta added.
Kalki will soon be seen on
the small screen via FOX Life’s
upcoming show Kalki’s Great
Escape. — IANS
Bollywood going
through a tough
time: Farah Khan
Filmmaker Farah Khan, who
is known for making several big
budget films, says Bollywood is
going through a tough time.
“Bollywood is going through
a really tough time. The kind
of taxes that are put on a
Bollywood movie is crazy.
Hollywood movies come here
but their taxation is half of
ours. They are not taxed as we
are,” Farah told reporters.
“It has become very
expensive to make a movie and
now everyone wants to watch
on phone. That’s going to be
MAKING A POINT: Farah Khan
the future. Also, half of the
money the government takes,
so it is becoming difficult,” she
added.
However, this phase in
Bollywood doesn’t scare her as
a filmmaker. “It doesn’t scare
me but they (Government)
have to figure out a way to
control it. It’s the budget that’s
wrong, especially the small
budget movie that you have to
worry about,” she said.
The latest to heighten
concern in the whole industry
was Disney India, that
owns UTV Motion Pictures,
reportedly deciding to draw
the curtains on its Hindi film
production business. — IANS
LENDING HER VOICE: Kalki Koechlin
Vikas Khanna takes Lata’s
blessings for MasterChef
Celebrity chef Vikas
Khanna visited melody queen
Lata Mangeshkar to take her
blessings for the fifth season of
cooking-based reality TV show
MasterChef India.
Khanna met Mangeshkar on the
auspicious occasion of Ganesh
Chaturthi festival on Monday. “It
is my fourth year at Mangeshkar’s
house where I have kept my
promise to Lataji. I visit her house
on the first day of Ganpati,”
Khanna said in a statement.
The Michelin-starred chef
added: “She (Mangeshkar) is like
a motherly figure to me and it
is always a pleasure and delight
to visit her. She wished me and
the contestants luck for the
upcoming season of Masterchef
India which really means a lot to
me.”
Khanna along with Kunal
Kapur and Zorawar Kalra will be
seen judging and mentoring the
contestants of the Star Plus show.
The fifth season will reiterate how
the skill of a chef is acquired over
years of learning and practising
with passion, hard work and toil,
knowledge and excellence and
their spirit to be applauded by
one and all. — IANS
Kendall Jenner, Harry Styles
rekindling their old romance
Waluscha becomes
the face of Avon hair
Model and reality TV personality Kendall
Jenner is reportedly rekindling her romance
with One Direction singer Harry Styles.
The duo were spotted on a dinner date last
week, reports people.com.
According to a source, Jenner “was
beaming” all night while she and Styles
enjoyed their time together at the restaurant
Ysabel.
“(They) are trying to spend time together
again” after cutting off their relationship for a
bit, a source close to the couple said.
“They’re rekindling their old romance and
Kendall’s so excited and happy about it. She’s
always cared about Harry,” the source added.
Jenner and Styles were first linked in January
2014 when they were seen going out to dinner
at Mammoth Mountain in California. Earlier
this year, they went for a romantic vacation in
St. Barts.
Following their split, Jenner was linked to
basketball player Jordan Clarkson and rapper
A$AP Rocky. — IANS
Model-turned-actress Waluscha
de Sousa, who made her Bollywood
debut with Shah Rukh Khan-starrer
Fan, has been roped in as the face of
beauty direct selling company Avon
hair care.
The brand launched Naturals Hair
Oil — which offers the goodness of
seven oils — for hair. And with the
launch, Waluscha was introduced as
the face for Avon Naturals Hair Care
in India. “It is an honour to be part
of a company that feels so strongly
about empowering women. I am
glad to be the face of the brand that
is committed to not only offering
innovative and quality products but
at the same time making a difference
to the lives of women across the
globe,” Waluscha said in a statement.
Talking about the hair oil,
Waluscha feels that it is a “seven in
one wonder”. — IANS
BRAND AMBASSADOR: Waluscha
de Sousa
a stunt suit, which isn’t as nice
as this one,” added the actor, who
dressed as Spider-Man upon his
visit to the hospital.
Talking about his role, Holland
said: “Spider-Man has always been
a huge part of my life. I loved the
movies, I loved the comics, and I
always just wanted to be SpiderMan. I could never have imagined
that this would become a reality,
and then to be here today and meet
all you guys is such a privilege.”
Directed by Jon Watts, SpiderMan: Homecoming will release on
July 7, next year. — IANS
Tom Holland keeps ripping
Spider-Man costume on set
Actor Tom Holland, who will
be seen playing the title role in
upcoming highly-anticipated film
Spider-Man: Homecoming, says he
has around 20 costumes of Spider-
TOGETHER? Kendall Jenner, left, and Harry Styles.
Man because he keeps ripping
them off on the film set.
Holland shared insights about
his costume during an interview
with radio channel Seacrest Studio
Atlanta in Egleston Children’s
Hospital, reports aceshowbiz.com.
“I break them quite a lot because
I have to do a lot of stunts and flips
and stuff, so they rip,” Holland
said.
“So, I think, we have 20 suits,
I think, that we alternate. This
is, actually, what we would call
a beauty suit, which means it’s
‘picture ready’. And then we have
16 GULF TIMES Thursday, September 8, 2016
COMMUNITY
‘Feel-good’ soca star
set for Doha concert
International soca superstar Kevin Lyttle is coming to Crystal Club,
W Doha, bringing his signature vibe next week. By Umer Nangiana
T
here is a reason why they
call him the ‘feel-good’
man. His eclectic tracks
make listeners feel warm
as he brings with him
the island life, with a touch of soca
(calypso music with elements of
soul) to the dance floor.
Vincentian-born international
soca superstar Kevin Lyttle is
coming to Crystal Club, W Doha,
bringing his signature feel-good
vibe. The man with his popular
hats will be entertaining the Doha
audience with some of his smashing
hits on September 12.
It was Turn Me On, Kevin Lyttle’s
first single that reached multiplatinum level, landing on several
countries’ Billboard charts in 2004,
and is still played on the radio,
performed in concerts, at music
festivals and in nightclubs globally.
Since then, he has been touring
every country, engaging more fans,
and producing with household
music names at his studio and
home in Miami.
Lyttle signed with Atlantic
Records in 2003 and a remixed
version of Turn Me On was officially
released as a single in the UK at
the end of the year, with dancehall
artist Spragga Benz’s guest vocals.
The song reached number two
in the UK, spending seven weeks
in the Top 10 of the UK Singles
Chart. It eventually became a
worldwide hit in 2004, reaching
number 4 in the United States,
number 3 in Australia and placing
within Top 5 in many European
countries.
The debut self-titled
album followed in July 2004,
charting within Top 10 in the USA,
where it was certified Gold, and
meeting with a minor success in
Europe. The second single, Last
Drop, was released in markets
outside the USA, but didn’t manage
to repeat the success of Turn Me
On, becoming only a minor hit in
Europe.
Drive Me Crazy was released as
the third single in autumn 2004,
followed by a promotional only
single I Got It. Both songs were
commercial failures. In 2005, Lyttle
released a new song in Jamaica only,
Jimmy Johnny.
In 2007, along with Byron
Lee and Arrow, he performed at
the Cricket World Cup opening
ceremony in Greenfield
Stadium, Jamaica. The same year
DOHA-BOUND: Singer Kevin Lyttle, the man with his popular hats, will be entertaining the Doha audience with some
of his smashing hits on September 12.
Lyttle’s records have reached platinum levels multiple times on charts globally.
Kevin Lyttle founded his own
record label, Tarakon Records.
Lyttle’s second album, Fyah, was
released by Tarakon and Universal
Records in 2008, featuring a
duet version of Turn Me On
recorded with Alison Hinds and
contributions from other artists.
The title song was released as the
first single and both the single and
the album were unsuccessful in
terms of commercial performance.
Lyttle was encouraged by
his family to pursue music at
the young age and has been
performing at local events in his
teens. Prior to his musical career,
Lyttle had subsisted on day jobs,
such as customs officer and
radio disc jockey. He recorded Turn
Me On as a Soca ballad in Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines in
2001 and the song subsequently
became a minor hit throughout the
Caribbean.
After his mass success, Lyttle
decided to grab the reigns, and
launched his own record label,
Tarakon Records. Between Turn
Me On and now, several master
collaborations were produced, and
one of them resulted with multiplatinum and Grammy Nominee,
Flo Rida, as the hot single Anywhere
which gained attention from many
European labels.
Anywhere was picked up by
What About Love, a film released
in theatres on February 15, 2014,
starring Sharon Stone and Andy
Garcia. This stimulating club song
was in two scenes, as well as on the
sound track to the movie.
Kevin Lyttle’s success has
continued, and he has signed
multiple distribution deals all
over the world, along with a
few endorsement deals such as
Samsung Electronics and others.
Lyttle broke through the mould
back in traditional releasing
of music and breaking into the
industry in 2003 with his hit
single Turn Me On, which topped
charts around the world, the UK,
Germany, Italy France, Belgium,
the Netherlands, Denmark,
Switzerland, Sweden, Norway,
Austria, Australia, and on to the
United States.
After earning spots on MTV,
Billboard’s Hot 100, and even
signing a deal with Atlantic
Records, his album went multiplatinum, selling over 2mn copies
in the beginning. He went on to
have two more songs, Drive Me
Crazy and Home for Carnival, that
hit number one on the charts for 2
consecutive years. Lyttle was, by all
definitions of the term, a rising star.
The government of St Vincent
and the Grenadines appointed
Kevin Lyttle the prestigious title
of “Cultural Ambassador” to St
Vincent, which he calls his first
home.
Using all of his momentous
success, Lyttle decided to give back
and founded a non-profit named
the Janice Lyttle Foundation in the
fight against heart disease, to which
his late mother had fallen victim,
as well as recently raised $500K in
medical supplies to St Vincent.