From Doha to Art Basel Hong Kong… Sadu Makes Its Presence Felt on One of the World's Premier Art Platforms, Signed by Catherine Karam

In a striking artistic achievement, Qatari Sadu is marking its presence on one of the most important global art platforms through the works of Lebanese artist Catherine Karam, who is based in Doha, as part of the Hong Kong Art Week events.

On the occasion of Hong Kong Art Week, ArtBridger presents its group exhibition “What Takes Shape,” curated by art curator Randa Sadaka, on March 20, 2026, featuring a select group of artists. Leading the participation is Karam, who presents works inspired by the heritage of the Gulf, specifically the art of Sadu, through a contemporary vision that journeys from Doha to the world.

Sadu… From Qatari Memory to Global Platforms

The significance of this participation resonates locally by shining a spotlight on the use of Sadu, one of the most prominent symbols of heritage in Qatar and the Gulf region, as a central element in Karam’s new series “Fields of Awakening.” Sadu is a traditional textile art linked to Bedouin life, practiced by women on handlooms, with its geometric motifs carrying meanings of identity, collective memory, and communal strength.

In her works, Karam reinterprets this heritage through the lens of her artistic practice, which has evolved since her move to Doha in 2012. In 2023, she founded the Conscious Walls project and dedicated her practice to what she calls “Mindful luminism.” The Sadu-inspired motifs in her paintings transform into visual pathways that guide the viewer through themes of fracture, renewal, and awakening, creating a contemporary dialogue between heritage and spirit.

Doha as the Point of Departure

Karam’s participation, with Qatar serving as the base for her creativity, underscores the growing role of Doha as a nurturing hub for contemporary arts and a source of inspiration that draws from local identity to engage with the global stage. The inclusion of works inspired by Sadu within the VIP tours of Art Basel Hong Kong reflects the arrival of elements of Qatari heritage before an elite international audience, on a platform regarded as a bridge between East and West and a major center for contemporary art in Asia.

A Visual Presence Merging Heritage with Abstraction

The works in “Fields of Awakening” are composed of mixed media on linen, where layers of acrylic, charcoal, ink, and graphite intersect in transparent, unframed spaces. Sadu appears either as hand-drawn motifs or as actual woven threads integrated into the fabric. This interplay of color, texture, and pattern lends the pieces a sensory dimension that rearticulates heritage in a universal abstract language.

This participation marks a pivotal milestone in the artist’s career, affirming the ability of an artistic practice originating in Qatar to appear at the most prestigious international forums. It firmly establishes Sadu not merely as a traditional craft, but as a visual vocabulary capable of speaking to the world from the very heart of the contemporary art scene.