the - gulf times

CommunityMES Indian School conducts an

activity-based workshop for its faculty members.

P7 P16 CommunityThe KatArt Preview exhibition,

with over 100 art pieces, will run for six days in Building 19 and 22 at Katara.

Sunday, January 19, 2020Jumada I 24, 1441 AH

Doha today: 170 - 250

The The gifted gifted

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COVERSTORY

K V Noufal, an Indian expatriate artist from Kerala,

is committed to turn it into a charitable cause. P4-6

QUIZ SHOWBIZ

Australian Open all

set to kick off .

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We will expose what happens at

Recording Academy: Ousted chief.

Page 15

Sunday, January 19, 20202 GULF TIMES

COMMUNITY ROUND & ABOUT

Community EditorKamran Rehmat

e-mail: [email protected]: 44466405

Fax: 44350474

Emergency 999Worldwide Emergency Number 112Kahramaa – Electricity and Water 991Local Directory 180International Calls Enquires 150Hamad International Airport 40106666Labor Department 44508111, 44406537Mowasalat Taxi 44588888Qatar Airways 44496000Hamad Medical Corporation 44392222, 44393333Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation 44845555, 44845464Primary Health Care Corporation 44593333 44593363 Qatar Assistive Technology Centre 44594050Qatar News Agency 44450205 44450333Q-Post – General Postal Corporation 44464444

Humanitarian Services Offi ce (Single window facility for the repatriation of bodies)Ministry of Interior 40253371, 40253372, 40253369Ministry of Health 40253370, 40253364Hamad Medical Corporation 40253368, 40253365Qatar Airways 40253374

USEFUL NUMBERS

Quote Unquote

PRAYER TIMEFajr 5amShorooq (sunrise) 6.22amZuhr (noon) 11.46amAsr (afternoon) 2.49pmMaghreb (sunset) 5.09pmIsha (night) 6.39pm

“Always do your best. What you plant

now, you will harvest later.” – Og Mandin

Bad Boys For LifeCAST: Will Smith, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig

DIRECTION: Adil El Arbi, Bilall Fallah SYNOPSIS: Old-school cops Mike Lowery and Marcus Burnett team up to take down the vicious leader of a Miami

drug cartel. Newly created elite team AMMO of the Miami police department along with Mike and Marcus go up against the ruthless Armando Armas.

THEATRES: Royal Plaza, Landmark, The Mall

Dolittle DIRECTION: Stephen GaghanCAST: Robert Downey Jr., Tom Holland, Emma ThompsonSYNOPSIS: Dr. John Dolittle lives in solitude behind the

high walls of his lush manor in 19th-century England. His only companionship comes from an array of exotic animals

that he speaks to on a daily basis. But when young Queen Victoria becomes gravely ill, the eccentric doctor and his furry friends embark on an epic adventure to a mythical island to fi nd the cure.

THEATRES: Landmark, The Mall, Royal Plaza

For movie timings and further details please scan

the QR code above with your mobile phone camera or visit qatarcinemas.com

3Sunday, January 19, 2020 GULF TIMES

COMMUNITYROUND & ABOUT

The Colour Run 2020WHERE: QNCCWHEN: January 25TIME: 7am – 10pmYour Health First is a fi ve-kilometre,

untimed event. At each kilometre mark, Colour Runners are doused from head to toe in a diff erent coloured powder. Participants wear white at the starting line and fi nish the race plastered in colour. Once the 5k is over, the fun continues at the Finish Festival, a larger-than-life party equipped with music, dancing, photo ops, activity booths, vendors, and more massive colour throws, which create millions of vivid colour combinations.

Ballet LessonsWHERE: Music and Arts AtelierWHEN: OngoingTIME: 4pm – 8pmFor more info e-mail at registration@

atelierqatar.com or call on 33003839.

Winter Dragon Boat Festival 2020WHERE: Museum of Islamic Art WHEN: January 24Row, paddle, hurry up! Qatar’s largest

water sports, Winter Dragon Boat Festival is back to show us their fast rowing skills. Dragon boating is a canoe-sport and was originally a traditional festival game dating back 2,000 years throughout Southern China. It has now become a popular sport with competitions held around the world.

Metro Street FoodWHERE: DECC Metro StationWHEN: OngoingTIME: 12:30pm Street Food is the ideal venue for a leisure

experience for the whole family off ering over 20 dine-in options and 18-hole World Mini-Golf setup.

Public Speaking Classes for AdultsWHERE: Sharq Capital, C-Ring Road

WHEN:Ongoing till July 1TIME: 6:30pm – 9pmGet trained by experts to be a good speaker.

Smedley Toastmasters is conducting a six-month speech-craft programme that teaches new members to speak confi dently and develop leadership skills. For more information, 66053485, 33232490 or visit www.SmedleyToastmasters.org

After School ActivitiesWHERE: AtelierWHEN: OngoingMusic and arts activities for students

taking place after they fi nish their day in

school includes Group Music lessons, Hip-hop, Ballet, Drawing and Painting, Drama Theatre & Taekwondo. Ages between 5 and 10 years old after school hours

Shop Qatar 2020WHERE: Malls in Qatar WHEN: Ongoing till January 31TIME: Entire dayShop Qatar has something for everyone,

including beauty masterclasses, fashion shows, shopping off ers, mall activities and shows, raffl e draws, and Chinese New Year celebrations.

Open EveningWHERE: Cafeteria Stenden University

QatarWHEN: January 22TIME: 3pm – 6pm

Sonu Nigam Live in QatarWHERE: Asian Town AmphitheatreWHEN: January 23TIME: 7:30pm onwardsBack by popular demand, Sonu Nigam, returns to wow his fans once again in a one-night only

concert. Presented by Q-Tickets the event is part of Shop Qatar Festival and under the aegis of Qatar National Tourism Council. Sonu Nigam has sung over 10,000 songs in diff erent languages and have received over 40 mainstream awards.

Compiled by Nausheen Shaikh. E-mail: [email protected], Events and timings subject to change


COMMUNITY COVER STORY

From the From the beginning, I beginning, I have been into have been into these colours. these colours. I have tried I have tried other materials, other materials, but I find real but I find real enjoyment and enjoyment and satisfaction with satisfaction with water colourswater colours

— K V Noufal

‘’

SUNDAY CONVERSATION

“A creative piece gets complete when it serves the purpose of

bringing diff erent people together”— K V Noufal, water colour artist

Photos by Hanosh Raghunath


COMMUNITYCOVER STORY

By Mudassir Raja

For him artistic creativity is a divine gift. It is an innate talent that can be brushed up with mere practice and experiments.

It is an expression of inner feelings and life experiences.

K V Noufal, an Indian expatriate from Kerala, is a water colour artist and art teacher. He comes from a family that faced lots of fi nancial challenges when he was a kid. His talent was however recognisable at a very young age and he went on to study art at the university level.

During schooling in Thiruvangoor, a village in Kerala, he took deep interest in arts as he was duly motivated and inspired by the works of his art teachers. He completed his professional training from Calicut Universal Arts in 1996.

Community recently spoke to Noufal, who is an art teacher at Shantiniketan Indian School, about his interest in art, works, and thoughts about art.

“There was a culture centre close to my house. Young children used to learn dance and music there. One day, a teacher from the centre noticed me making a drawing on a wall with charcoal. He informed my father about my artistic talent and urged him to let me study art,” said Noufal.

The talented artist always felt the need to fi nancially support his family. “I did not get a regular job soon after completing my university studies. Being the eldest son, I needed to earn money. I started doing wall chalking and painting — painting stories on the walls of diff erent schools in my area. After some time, I got a job at a nursery school. It was fi nally in 2009 that I got the art teacher’s job in Qatar.”

The artist did not start painting regularly till he joined the school in Qatar. “I got a lot of encouragement and appreciation from the principal of the school for my creative strain. I have taken part in many exhibitions in India, Qatar and other Gulf countries. I have made over 5,000 paintings and continue to enjoy my work.”

Noufal primarily paints with water colours. “I love water colours. From the beginning, I have been into these colours. I have tried other materials, but I fi nd real enjoyment and satisfaction with water colours.”

The artist has been predominantly portraying rural life in India and modern architecture in Qatar. “I come from a rural area. I grew up living very close to nature. I am often nostalgic about my childhood memories and experiences, and revisit them

The Spiral Mosque. Waiting for the right time.

“Qatar is a country that welcomes art and artists irrespective of their backgrounds. There is always

something taking place related to art here. It promotes art and encourages artists”

No limitation to survival. Continued to Page 6


COMMUNITY COVER STORY

through my paintings. I bring out nature in raw and its connection with human beings.

“As for Qatar, I have portrayed diff erent mosque architectures in the country. I am fascinated by both the old and modern infrastructure of Qatar.”

For Noufal, art is a passion and dedication. “It is an expression of one’s own experiences chained together in an attractive manner. It [art] takes shape within an artist based on the personal experiences related to the outside world.

“Artistic creations should be able to infl uence people [viewers] and lead them to right thinking and action. A creative piece gets complete when it serves the purpose of bringing diff erent people together. Art, for me, is actually an expression of inner feelings and reaction to outside experiences.”

As an art teacher, Noufal considers art a language and medium of expression. “It is the language of colours and images. A

child can learn much better through art forms and artistic illustrations. Every child is attracted more by colours and images than verbal communications. The impressions created on a child’s mind by colours and images are long lasting. Not only the art but also the teachers of other subjects can make the learning process eff ective by using diff erent art forms and techniques. The young minds learn pretty quickly by means of visualising a story or a concept. The majority of the young students carries an earnest desire to make an artistic performance. I value this desire among my students. It helps me get

connected with them in a routine class. This connection gives me a sense of professional satisfaction as a teacher.”

Noufal deems artistic creativity more as talent than skill. “No-one can teach [force] art, but everyone can learn it. The style of students learning art diff ers from that of grownups. Adults have varied experiences in life and they have diff erent reasons for learning or pursuing art. Children, however, learn art for its sheer enjoyment and satisfaction. As a teacher, I identifi ed students who have artistic talent through my interaction with them. These interactions are done

both directly and indirectly. There are a lot of ways to identify their talent. For example, from the way they write, arrange their personal things, do some craft work etc.

The art teacher is all praise for the art scene of Qatar. “It is a country that welcomes art and artists irrespective of their backgrounds. There is always something taking place related to art here. It promotes art and encourages artists. One gets a chance to see a lot of exhibitions and art competitions. Even at schools there are numerous art contests. There are beautiful art galleries and museums here. Katara is really a hub of art and cultural

activities. “Usually, a teacher’s work is confi ned to the school campus but as an art teacher the encouragement and support I get from my principal — Dr Subash Nair — my students and their parents is amazing. This becomes possible only because Qatar favours and values art. I love Qatar because it was the home of late Indian artist M F Husain.

Noufal has plans to use his income as an artist for charity purposes. “Artistic talent is a gift given by the Almighty. I don’t want to waste it. I consider it as my responsibility to extend the benefi t of my gift to other people, who are badly in need of support to keep their life going. I have already started contributing to charity organisations from the earnings that I have from my artwork. Now, I am seriously thinking of forming an association of artist solely for the purpose of charity work. I am also planning to create a YouTube channel to spread my artistic creations and attract more people to buy these paintings and ultimately to contribute to charity.”

Continued from Page 5 The artist has been predominantly portraying rural life in India. “I come from a rural area. I grew up living

very close to nature. I am often nostalgic about my childhood memories and experiences, and revisit

them through my paintings. I bring out nature in raw and its connection with human beings”

Run away from the herd. Let’s cherish nature’s gift.

Rural life Hail, storm or rain, I must provide.


COMMUNITY

MES conducts teachers’ orientation programmeWith an objective to equip teachers with the proven techniques involved in teaching and learning strategies, MES Indian School recently conducted an activity-based workshop for its faculty members. Dr N Madhuri Parti, from Macmillan Publication, conducted the workshop. Various topics discussed during the workshop, including the paradigm shift in the learning framework and execution of the 21st century learning methodology, ways and means to improve listening proficiency of students through collaborative learning strategies, and various ways to understand students for eff ective knowledge transaction.

The session also focused on the essentiality of teachers being role models to their students and the need to understand diff erent types of learners who are broadly classified into auditory, visual, tactile, kinesthetic, sequential, simultaneous, verbal, interactive, reflective, direct experience, indirect experience and rhythmic learners. Teachers were engaged with various enriching activities, which was followed by a question and answer session. Hameeda Kadar, Principal of MES, reminded the teachers of their responsibilities and commitment to their profession and the school. Heads of Sections along with the teachers and off icials of MES Indian School attended the orientation session.

The new Jaguar F-TYPE off ers a perfect balance of performance and driver reward

The new Jaguar F-TYPE offers a perfect balance of performance and driver reward with an even more muscular, assertive design and a cabin defined by rich, luxurious materials and beautiful details, stated a press release. The range of powerful, responsive engines includes four-, six- and eight-cylinder options, all matched to eight-speed Quickshift transmissions with

full manual control using either the SportShift gear selector or the steering wheel-mounted paddles. The new F-TYPE also offers more driver-focused technology, including a reconfigurable, high-definition, 12.3-inch TFT instrument cluster, Touch Pro infotainment system with Apple CarPlay as standard and software-over-the-air functionality so future software updates can be made at the customer’s convenience without having to visit a Retailer. Two superb Meridian sound systems also offer enhanced sound reproduction.Julian Thomson, Design Director of Jaguar, said, “Design the most beautiful sports car, with purity, proportion and presence that’s unmistakably Jaguar: that was the challenge we set ourselves. The new F-TYPE is more dramatic than ever, with even greater clarity of purpose in every line, surface and feature, and embodies true Jaguar design DNA.“State-of-the-art technologies together with luxurious materials and finishes deliver beauty with purpose in an interior which will delight driver and passenger alike even before the engine starts and the journey begins. Jaguar has been making sports cars for more than 70 years, and that rich heritage has inspired the team to create something truly extraordinary.”F-TYPE’s award-winning design has evolved still further with a focus on even greater purity and discipline to the perfectly-sculpted form. Super-slim pixel LED headlights with subtly updated signature ‘Calligraphy’ J daytime running lights, and sweeping direction indicators, blend perfectly into the ‘liquid metal’ surfacing of the new clamshell bonnet, exaggerating the car’s visual width and accentuating its assertive stance. The new front bumper and subtly enlarged grille deliver even more visual impact and presence.The rear haunches enhance the F-TYPE’s inherently dramatic, purposeful form, while the new slender rear lights combine an unmistakable LED chicane signature, inspired by the Jaguar I-PACE all-electric Performance SUV, with subtle monogram pattern detailing and a fine ‘pinstripe’ beneath. The interior combines traditional Jaguar craftsmanship with rich, contemporary materials such as Windsor Leather and satin-finish Noble Chrome. All engines – 300PS turbocharged four-cylinder, 380PS supercharged V6 and 575PS V8s – feature active exhaust systems, which are switchable either as an option or as standard. Customers who choose the 575PS supercharged V8 benefit from the new Quiet Start function, which ensures a more subtle, refined sound – the electrically-actuated bypass valves in the rear silencer remain closed until they automatically open up under load. Alan Volkaerts, Vehicle Line Director of Jaguar F-TYPE, said, “The new F-TYPE is the definitive Jaguar sports car and continues to set the benchmark for design purity, driver engagement and reward, and a truly visceral driving experience – it makes every journey extraordinary.“Its timeless looks are more assertive than ever, technologies such as the high-definition virtual instrument cluster deepen the driver-focused feel of the interior, while the range of powertrains offers a breadth of choice unrivalled in the segment. Enthusiasts will appreciate the new F-TYPE R’s 575PS supercharged V8, enhanced chassis and intelligent all-wheel drive system, which deliver truly outstanding performance in all conditions while retaining its inherent tractability and usability.”The F-TYPE R’s increased power is matched to a comprehensively uprated chassis with new, wider, 20-inch, 10-spoke wheels in Gloss Black with diamond-turned finish, and new adaptive dampers, springs, anti-roll bars and stiffer rear knuckles and ball joints, delivering even greater agility and responsiveness.


COMMUNITY TRA

Revealing brilliant museums from Reykjavík to Pristina, shining a light on everything from dinosaurs and Vikings to

Mozart and the history of cinema

Albert Kahn Museum, ParisThe collection is breathtaking

– true colour photographs commissioned by the banker and philanthropist Albert Kahn in the early 20th century and taken all over the world. The idea was to create an archive of the planet, and it is considered one of the world’s most important collections of early colour photographs. The colour makes views from a hundred years ago very fresh, and yet somehow alien. Few people, colourful clothes, countryside without much construction. Some places have not changed, for instance Mostar’s bridge (now reconstructed) looks just as it did 100 years ago. Exhibits change regularly enough and every time I was taken by how remarkable the collection is. The Japanese gardens attached to the museum are gorgeous as well.

NB: Although the wonderful gardens are open, the museum itself is closed until 2021, when it will reopen

in a new building. – Amaury

Neon Muzeum, WarsawUnexpected enlightenment

in a derelict-looking backstreet warehouse! While entrepreneurs in the west were using neon to entice customers to buy cigarettes and burgers during the cold war the Polish state was using neon to lift the spirits of workers from the drab streets. Have your retinas bleached and bask in the warm incandescence of arty propaganda in this unique museum in the suburb of Praga. – Martin Charlesworth

Museo Automovilistico y de la Moda, Málaga, Spain

Often known simply (but misleadingly) as the Automobile Museum, this hidden gem combines the history of automobile design with that of haute couture fashion, alongside works of contemporary art inspired by them. In a restored tobacco factory, a stroll along the seafront from the city centre, it treats both cars and clothing as works of art, and locates them in their social history. From rare Bugattis and Ferraris to Chanel and Prada, from the belle époque to art deco and hot rods,

allow a good couple of hours to admire this beguiling collection of treasures. – Helen Colley

Fundació Museu del Cinema, Collecció Tomàs Mallol, Girona, Spain

This place off ers a fascinating journey through the history of cinema, starting on the top fl oor with early moving picture gizmos like interactive zoetropes and cameras. As you work down from the top fl oor to the bottom, the whole of cinema history is covered. It is packed with posters, technology and short fi lms. Some of the most fun are the ones showing how special eff ects have been created over time. Even the outside of the museum is an amazing smorgasbord of fi lm reels and vintage cinema art. – Elizabeth Heaney

National Museum of Iceland, Reykjavík

This absorbing museum’s permanent collection is a wide-open window on the country’s surprising cultural history, comprising archaeological artefacts and interactive displays. These include Viking boats, Celtic jewellery, Christian iconography, Danish royal

paintings and photos of the 1975 women’s strike. More curious items include the 900-year-old preserved remains of the Lady In Blue and a log cabin depicting the interior of an early Icelandic home. Apparently settlers buried their food in winter and covered it with excrement to survive. You’ll look at the locals in a whole new light. – Amy

Den Gamley By, Aarhus, Denmark

The European city of culture in 2017, Aarhus is fast becoming one of the best cities to visit on the continent – yet it’s still not on many people’s radars. Our highlight was Den Gamle By (Old Town), which covers life from the 1500s to the 1970s. You can spend days there, meandering from the 18th-century apothecary to the 19th-century bakery. – Laura King

M9, mainland VeniceAs the crowds fl ock to the more

famous sights, cross the bridge and head inland to the M9 museum in Mestre for a diff erent take on Italy. While so many Italian museums focus on its ancient and medieval past, M9 takes us on the rollercoaster ride that was 20th century Italy. Interactive

displays connect us with the political, economic and social upheaval that was experienced from Trapani to Trieste, world wars to the European Union, abject poverty to economic boom, and emigration to immigration. It is an Italy unseen by many and off ers a richer understanding of what makes it such a fascinating country. – Steve Bassett

MAMbo, BolognaThis outstanding museum houses

permanent collections from the second world war to the present day, but its real strength lies in works from the heyday of Red Bologna in the 1970s, when political revolution was in the air and art “took to the streets and walls of the city”. The second time I visited it had a remarkable exhibition on the politics and art of Italian fi lmmaker and writer, Pier Paolo Pasolini. And not least, it has a stylish cafe where you can sip an afternoon espresso while perusing its art and poetry books. – Olivia arigho-stiles

Haus Der Musik, ViennaThe House of Music will bring out

the child in everyone as sound and music are brought to life through interactive exhibits which show off

Travel tips for 12 of the besIf you’re planning to go for a Europe trip and would like to get an

insight to the history and culture of the place, the locals give an

insider perspective of where and which museum to opt for

HIDDEN GEM: Museo Automovilistico y de la Moda, Málaga, Spain, is often known simply (but misleadingly) as the Automobile Museum, this hidden gem combines the history of automobile design with that of haute couture fashion, alongside works of contemporary art inspired by them.

9GULF TIMES

COMMUNITYSunday, January 19, 2020

AVEL

st city museums in Europe

classical composers, street noises and visual demonstrations of wavelengths. You can also conduct an orchestra, have Mozart write your name in music, compose a waltz using dice and walk up a piano staircase. We found ourselves running between the exhibits as the magic of the music took over. This museum is great for families and the inner child in all of us. – Ellie C

Palazzo Massimo, RomeWalking into a 2,000-year-old

room lifted from a Roman palace and covered in perfectly preserved paintings depicting a garden full of diff erent birds and trees is about as close as you can actually get to time travel. The museum also contains possibly the best collection of Roman frescoes and mosaics in the world. Some of the mosaics are so fi ne they look more like paintings. All of that is in only one of the three fl oors. Often overlooked by visitors to Rome but mind-blowing. – Richard

Ethnographic Museum, Pristina, Kosovo

Expecting dusty pots and rugs? Not so in this charming museum in two gorgeously preserved Ottoman houses in the capital of Europe’s

youngest country. Guides will give you an enthusiastic tour around the elegant former living spaces – from the “room of fi re” kitchen to the accommodation off ered to guests at any hour of day or night, in accordance with strict Albanian rules of hospitality. Such traditions apparently die hard and the English-speaking guides will also pick walnuts and mulberries for you in the museum’s gardens. – Elizabeth Gowing

Museum of Natural Sciences, Brussels

More than just the home of the EU, Brussels has an impressive 93 museums. The dinosaur gallery in the Museum of Natural Sciences is the largest in Europe and great fun for children and adults alike. The highlight for my nine-year-old was an incredible 30 fossilised iguanodon skeletons in lifelike poses.

Sand trays give the chance to try your hand at being a palaeontologist, while a simulation allows you to challenge a virtual pachycephalosaurus. Tours available in English and there are discovery trails for children. – Kevin Munday

– The Guardian

FOR MUSIC LOVERS: The House of Music will bring out the child in everyone as sound and music are brought to life through interactive exhibits which show off classical composers, street noises and visual demonstrations of wavelengths.

FUN PLACE: The dinosaur gallery in the Museum of Natural Sciences is the largest in Europe and great fun for children and adults alike.

LINK: Interactive displays at M9 Venice connect us with the political, economic and social upheaval that was experienced from Trapani to Trieste, world wars to the European Union, abject poverty to economic boom, and emigration to immigration.


COMMUNITY QUIZ

The holidays are over. And the bests of world’s tennis are already headed Down Under to play at the much awaited and the fi rst

Grand Slam tennis event of the year. Australian Open is now arguably the largest annual sporting event in the Southern Hemisphere. Nicknamed ‘the happy slam’ and often referred to as the ‘Grand Slam of Asia/Pacifi c’ the tournament is the highest attended Grand Slam event, with more than 780,000 people attending the 2019 edition.

The Australian Open was fi rst held in 1905. It is the youngest of all the four Grand Slams, the oldest being Wimbledon (1877) followed by US Open (1881) and French Open (1891). Interestingly, when it was fi rst held, the very fi rst game was played in a cricket fi eld at the Warehouseman’s Cricket Ground. The tournament was known to as the Australasian Championships until 1927 and then became the Australian Championships and fi nally Australian Open in 1969. Since its inception, the Australian Open has been staged in fi ve Australian and two New Zealand cities.

Due to the remote location of Australia in the context of the home locations of many international players, very few foreign players entered this tournament in the early 20th century. In the 1920s, the trip by ship from Europe to Australia took about 45 days. In 1972, it was decided to stage the tournament in Melbourne each year because it attracted the biggest patronage of any Australian city. The tournament was played at the Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club from 1972 until the move to the new Melbourne Park complex in 1988.

Initially, the Australian Open was played on grass. But, starting 1988, the surface shifted from grass to hard courts. Green Rebound Ace was used up till 2007 eventually getting replaced by blue Plexicushion. Mats Wilander holds the record for being the only player to win the title on both grass (1983 and 1984) and hard court (1988).

January is actually the summer time in Australia. The mercury can rise up to 45 degree Celsius which is well above 100 degrees in Fahrenheit. The blazing conditions pose a challenge to players. They feel like playing tennis in a sauna, or on a frying pan that sizzle their soles. They are forced to make use of braided ice towels. Many players have to be put on some intravenous

drips in order to cope up with the hot weather conditions. Extreme temperatures can also cause the tennis balls to shrink and expand. This makes the balls react diff erently. The Australian Open has an Extreme Heat Policy. Introduced in 1998, it calls for play to be stopped on all courts once the temperature reaches 104 degrees F (40 degrees C). It is no surprise that the tournaments’ spectators are desperate for some cooling down as well. What better way to cool down than by eating ice creams? Consequently, an average of 160,000 ice creams is consumed each year at the Australian Open!

AO is also the fi rst Grand Slam tournament to feature indoor play during wet weather or extreme heat with its three primary courts, the Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Arena and the refurbished Margaret Court Arena equipped with retractable roofs.

The Australian Open had its fair share of hiccups over its existence. The tournament was played in January till 1919 and shifted to March in 1920. It again changed to August during 1923-1976. In a curious case, when changing from a

January event to a December event, two tournaments were held in 1977; the fi rst in January, the second in December. In 1987, the tournament moved back to January, so no championship was decided in 1986.

When Serena Williams won her record-breaking 23rd Grand Slam singles title at the Australian Open in Melbourne in 2017 she was keeping an exciting secret – she was pregnant!

While Djokovic holds the record for most Australian Open wins, Federer isn’t far behind him. In the last 16 editions, the singles titles have been won by either ‘The Serbinator’ or ‘The Swiss Maestro’ a mindboggling 13 times. Will it again be the romance of Roger Federer triumph in possibly his swansong at AO2020 or one of the younger generation break through the stranglehold for a possible fresh air which has seen bushfi re smoke in the lead-up? World number one Ash Barty faces the double burden as she raises hopes of the host nation’s 42-year wait for a home-winner at Melbourne.

Learning dry information may be useful but not always fun. Welcome

to another bout of bits and bats. Welcome to ‘Nutty’s Infortainment.YAYS!’. Your time starts now.

Name the youngest and the oldest winner of the Men’s single title at the Australian Open.

Ken Rosewall and Ken Rosewall. Yes, you read that right. It is the same person! He won in 1953 at the age of 18 and again in 1972 at the age of 37.

Novak Djokovic holds the record for the most men’s singles titles at AO, winning it seven times. Who overshadows his record in women’s with a record-breaking eleven singles titles?

Margaret Court. She is also credited with the longest consecutive singles win streak with seven victories (1960-66).

The longest Grand Slam fi nal ever played happened at the 2012 Australian Open. Name the two players engaged in the epic battle lasting 5 hours and 53 minutes.

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, at the time ranked the number 1 and 2 player in the world, respectively. In the fi nal, Novak Djokovic defeated Rafael Nadal 5–7, 6–4, 6–2, 6–7(5–7), 7–5 to win the tournament.

Which is the only Grand Slam to be played in two diff erent countries?

Australian Open. It was played in the neighboring New Zealand in 1906 and 1912.

Martina Navratilova pulled off a remarkable double in 2003 when she won both the Australian Open and Wimbledon mixed doubles, aged 46, playing alongside an Indian tennis player. Name him.

Leander Paes. Considered to be one of the best doubles and mixed doubles players of all time, he has achieved a career Grand Slam in both disciplines.

Alaska was previously a territory of Russia which was sold to the United States in 1867. The sale of Alaska is well-known in history as the Alaska Purchase. For how much money per acre did the United States bought the colony?

2 cents per acre (total of $7.2 million).

Name the only American politician who was sworn-in for an unprecedented (and never to be repeated) 4th term as US president.

Franklin D Roosevelt. He was sworn in for the fourth term on January 20, 1945. With his physical health declining during the WWII years, he died just 11 weeks into his fourth term.

On this day (January 19) in 1935 – Coopers Inc sold the world’s fi rst briefs in Chicago. What was it called?

Jockey. It “off ered” a similar degree of support as the jockstrap (one style of which is also called Jock brief or Support briefs). Thirty-thousand pairs were sold within three months of their introduction.

R.N. Kao: Gentleman Spymaster is a biography of Rameshwar Nath Kao, the founding chief of India’s external intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). According to its author, Kao had forewarned which two world leaders before their assassinations?

Indira Gandhi and Sheikh Mujib-ur-Rehman.

In the Sixties, Salvador Dali frequently travelled with his pet, a wild cat, pictured below with him. When one of the diners at a Manhattan restaurant was alarmed by this animal, Dali told her that it was a common domestic cat that he had “painted over in an op art design”. Which animal was it and what did he name her?

(Answer next week. Answer to last week’s photo-quiz: Timely Comics.)

Australian Open set to kick off

1. Name the only bird which can fl y forwards, backwards, up, down, sideways or sit in sheer space?

Hummingbird. (Fauzia Hassan, National Grammar School, Lahore)

2. What is Amaxophobia?Fear of being in or riding in a vehicle.(Jonathan Shawn, Petroserv, Doha)

Do you have some interesting bytes to share? And, does yourvibe attract you to the ‘Tribe NI.yays!’ Every week two of your best questions will be featured here. Please do write to us at [email protected].

Tribe NI.yays

HISTORY: The Australian Open was first held in 1905. When it was first held, the very first game was played in a cricket field at the Warehouseman’s Cricket Ground. The tournament was known to as the Australasian Championships until 1927 and then became the Australian Championships and finally Australian Open in 1969.


COMMUNITYINFOGRAPHIC

1 Rings in the wood were compared to an historical database of European tree rings

Science Matters

Source: Mauro Bernabei of National Research Council (Italy); European Space Agency (relief)Graphic: Helen Lee McComas, Tribune News Service

These oak timbers laid in horizontal tiers (above) and set vertically as foundation posts (right) supported a porch-like portico in the gardens of via Sannio, a rich and lavishly decorated property in Rome

The researchers speculate that the heavy timbers were floated down the Saône and Rhône rivers in present-day France, then shipped over the Mediterranean Sea and up the river Tiber to Rome

They were transported an estimated 1050 mi. (1700 km)

Ancient Romans relied on long- distance timber trading to build their capital, wooden timbers discovered in a subway excavation have revealed.

Roman empire was built on foreign wood

Tree rings show the wood came from Gaul

A possible route

Wooden foundation beams

2 The rings showed that the oaks were felled between 40 and 60 CE, and the trees grew near each other

3 Regional growing patterns in 1st Century forests showed the trees grew in the Jura mountains in eastern France

Mediterranean Sea

FRANCE(current)

Massilia(Marseille)

TREES’ ORIGIN

DESTINATION

ROME

ITALY(current)

RhôneRiver

AlpsSaôneRiver

Belfort Gap


COMMUNITY CARTOONS/PUZZLES

Adam

Pooch Cafe

Garfield

Bound And Gagged

Codeword

Wordsearch

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.

Puzz

les

cour

tesy

: Puz

zlec

hoic

e.co

m

Sudoku

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.

AARDVARKALTARARABABACUSANCHORARCHABBEYANGELARMADA

ABYSSANIMALARMYACACIAANGLEARROWACORNANTSATLAS

ADDERANVILATOMADULTAPEXAZTECAERIALAPPLE


COMMUNITYPUZZLES

Colouring

Answers

Wordsearch Codeword

Across1 Tender young model? (4-6)7 A gift for putting party before country (8)8 A monstrous giant makes the queen go back (4)9 Retain part of the castle (4)10 The food of love, say? (7)12 Game strikers fought to get minerals (11)14 King George has a double but not all at once (7)16 Laid-back face (4)19 Incline to be thin (4)20 Hustling to provide natural illumination (8)21 Late campanologist’s double (4,6)

Super Cryptic Clues

Solution

Down1 Tolerate a small stream (5)2 Showing two undergarments is most valiant (7)3 Leave out a container for rubbish (4)4 Sat and drank from these? (8)5 Run away from antelopes (5)6 Criminals used by shepherds? (6)11 Leeds can change if purified (8)12 Island that is carried round? (6)13 Cultivating fruit on top of greenhouse (7)15 Needs reform, being stupid (5)17 Composer providing some simple harmony (5)18 One who’s not in favour in Byzantium (4)


COMMUNITY LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE

ARIESMarch 21 — April 19

CANCERJune 21 — July 22

LIBRASeptember 23 — October 22

CAPRICORNDecember 22 — January 19

TAURUSApril 20 — May 20

LEOJuly 23 — August 22

SCORPIOOctober 23 — November 21

AQUARIUSJanuary 20 — February 18

GEMINIMay 21 — June 20

VIRGOAugust 23 — September 22

SAGITTARIUSNovember 22 — December 21

PISCESFebruary 19 — March 20

Today begins an exciting period in your personal life, Aries. It’s time for

new beginnings in your relationship. You may be ready to make the

changes you and your partner have been considering for quite some

time. Moving in together, doing some construction on your house,

buying a summer home, or perhaps even having a child - start making

those plans that symbolise the stability of your relationship.

You probably pay a great deal of attention to what other people

think of you, Cancer. It may often be hard for you to make decisions

in delicate situations for fear of being misjudged, even if you know

you must. You may run into this dilemma as you go about your

day today. Trust your own good judgment. It may be much more

important to be decisive today than you can even imagine.

Over the last few weeks, you may have made some good progress in

learning to express your emotions, Libra. The great thing is that you

probably didn’t even notice! But if you aren’t careful, there may be some

bullheaded person around you today who may try and destroy all the

progress you’ve made. Don’t confuse controlling your emotions with

repressing them. It’s up to you to protect all the progress you’ve made.

Today the people around you could seem much more serious than

usual, Capricorn. You could even decide to get away from them and

go hide out just for the day, for example, in a movie theatre watching

an afternoon film. But you won’t find the movie you want to see. Don’t

try and run away from the gravity of the moment; you may become

even more serious than the people you are running away from.

If you have been having problems in your relationship or life in

general, Taurus, don’t expect things to get any better today. The

people around you might find you extremely irritable! It may seem

that anything anyone says gets on your nerves. Even the sweet

nothings that your sweetheart whispers in your ear seem like a

bunch of hot air!

You probably enjoy exploring the innermost recesses of your own

human nature, Leo. Yet today you may need to be a bit more rational.

In your personal life, you may feel as if you’ve been beaten at your

own game and this has weakened you. Why not take advantage of

this to bring your partner with you on one of your voyages inside

yourself?

There’s no need to go pounding your head against a wall, Scorpio,

your day will be challenging, but it’s nothing you can’t handle. The

planetary configurations today will push you to lay the foundation for

the projects you’ve been planning over the last six months. Go with

the flow. People sometimes think that you are good at lighting fires

but lousy at keeping them going. It’s time you proved them wrong!

You could find the atmosphere today a bit oppressive, Aquarius. The

time has come to deal with some of the important questions you

may have been avoiding for quite some time. It could be especially

important to take a look at your life at home and see what you can do

change the negative atmosphere that has come into your life over the

past few weeks.

This could be a very studious day for you, Gemini; actually, it might

be better to call it labourious. But you love to work, and you will

get all the work you can handle today. It’s a good day to work on all

those things in your life that still need a little attention in order to

stand on their own, the things that haven’t quite found a permanent

place in your life, like some of your relationships, for example.

On days like today it’s important to take time out to reflect upon

the events of the past few days, Virgo. Is it possible you’ve decided

to change certain things about yourself and your behaviour? If

you could just devote a few minutes a day to all the little details in

your personality, the changes will go much more smoothly. The

atmosphere today may help you think about this.

Today, you may find you have a certain gift for productivity.

Everything you touch turns to gold, yet you may be under the

impression that you can’t provide everything you need for yourself.

So what do you do? You start buying everything in sight! Today you

might want to think about this bad little habit of yours, Sagittarius.

You may be tempted to go on a big shopping spree.

You may be a specialist at manipulating concepts and ideas and

using your analytical skills to understand any problem that comes

your way. If this is true, Pisces, people have probably already told

you that thinking is fine, but there is a moment when you have to

put all that thinking into practice! The position of the planets today

invites you to think about this.

Sophisticated layering: how to wear men’s cardigans

By Priya Elan

Thanks to Harry Styles, Tyler, the Creator and Brian Cox in Succession, the cardigan is now cool

Something strange is happening with cardigans right now. We have sprinted past the moment when they were the limp cousin of the jumper, worn only if one wanted to signal a love of secondhand paperbacks. Now, in an era of aggressive layering, the associations of feyness have faded and the cardigan has become an essential part of a man’s winter wardrobe.

Worn over a T-shirt or a shirt – and with large thanks to Gucci and Harry Styles, Tyler, the Creator and Brian Cox in Succession – wearing the cardigan is now (dundundun!) cool.

Coolcardie nods towards the Ivy Look (the 50s preppy and

freshly groomed look; see actor Steve McQueen). But in its boldest iteration, when rendered in strong colours by Marni or Bottega Veneta, it takes a step up from layered piece to statement piece. Today I’ve gone for The Statement Cardie: maroon with pockets, over a jumper. As with a shirt, all buttons done up is a good way to wear it (it looks a bit too slouchy otherwise). Preppy is nice, but the Coolcardie is all about changing up the traditional ways a cardigan is worn. You should avoid wearing it with a shoe that’s too smart (unless you want to go full Jude Law in The Talented Mr Ripley). A stacked trainer or even a Converse looks good here. Do I like it? The moment I place my hands in the pockets, there’s a defi nitely a hygge vibe; I feel centred and peaceful. It hangs snugly, like wearing a cloud (see also: duvet jackets and tracksuit bottoms). I can see that Coolcardie and I will be friends for quite a while.

— The Guardian

Sunday, January 19, 2020 15GULF TIMES

COMMUNITYSHOWBIZ

Everything in the universe moves because of love: Imtiaz Ali

Imtiaz Ali’s fi lms always revolves around love, the strongest human emotion. The director feels everything in the universe moves because of love.

“I don’t know what the relevance of love is, but I feel everything in the universe somehow moves because of it. I feel that if a man and a woman are in love, it is through their love that the universe is moving around. I want to explore these things more,” said Ali, at the trailer launch of his next fi lm, Love Aaj Kal recently.

The fi lm’s lead stars Sara Ali

Khan and Kartik Aaryan were also present at the event.

Ali said he has also passed through the phase that today’s youth is passing. “I am at a certain age now, but when I was young I went through the same phase that today’s young generation is going through. I feel that everybody goes through the same cycle. They have the same questions in their minds as we had at our time,” the fi lmmaker said.

Films, Ali added, are his way of sharing knowledge about love with the younger generation. “It’s not easy to explain the knowledge of love that you had when you are young. We can’t force anyone to follow such knowledge and correct

his or her life. But in some way, this is my way of talking to the younger generation about love,” he said, about his fi lms.

“I don’t want to tell them what to do, but I can show them what I am. This is all what I understand about love,” he added.

The story of Ali’s 2009 release, Love Aaj Kal, starring Saif Ali Khan and Deepika Padukone, shuffl ed between two time zones. The newer version is similar, with Kartik and Sara essaying present-day lovers. The fi lm also stars Randeep Hooda and Arushi Sharma in pivotal roles.

Love Aaj Kal opens on Valentine’s Day.

– IANS

We will expose what happens at Recording Academy: Ousted chief

By Randy Lewis

Just 10 days before the 62nd Grammy Awards, Recording Academy President and Chief Executive Deborah

Dugan was placed on leave after an allegation of misconduct, the organisation confirmed last Thursday.

Dugan took over August 1 as the first female president of the Recording Academy, which oversees the Grammy Awards. Dugan replaced longtime Recording Academy Chief Executive Neil Portnow, who suggested in 2018 that female artistes should “step up” if they wanted to be recognised at the Grammys.

“In light of concerns raised to the Recording Academy Board of Trustees, including a formal allegation of misconduct by a senior female member of the Recording Academy team, the Board has placed Recording Academy President and CEO Deborah Dugan on administrative leave, effective immediately,” according to a statement from the academy provided to The Times. “The Board has also retained two independent third-party investigators to conduct independent investigations of the allegations.

“The Board determined this action to be necessary in order to restore the confidence of the Recording Academy’s membership, repair Recording Academy employee morale, and allow the Recording Academy to focus on its mission of serving all music creators,” the statement continued. “Board Chair Harvey Mason Jr. will serve as interim president and CEO pending the conclusion of the investigation. The Recording Academy Board of

Trustees is committed to fostering a safe, diverse and inclusive

workplace, music industry and society.” Representatives

for the academy said no other information was immediately available. “What has been reported is not nearly the story that needs to be told,” Dugan said through lawyer Bryan Freedman in a statement issued last Friday morning. “When our ability to speak is not restrained by a 28-page contract and legal threats, we will expose what happens when you ‘step up’ at the Recording Academy, a public nonprofit.”

Dugan had recently filed a complaint with the academy’s human resources department, according to a New York Times report, outlining practices that raised concerns for her, including voting irregularities, financial mismanagement, “exorbitant and unnecessary” legal fees and “conflicts of interest involving members of the academy’s board, executive committee and outside lawyers.”

The New York Times also cited a person “with direct knowledge” saying that Dugan’s removal came after an assistant to former President and CEO Portnow, her immediate predecessor, filed a complaint about Dugan, charging her with a “bullying” management style. The assistant subsequently took a leave of absence, according to the New York Times report.

A source with knowledge of the Recording Academy’s operations told the Los Angeles Times that Dugan “didn’t fit in, from the get-go.”

Another person with knowledge of the academy’s inner workings characterised Dugan’s management style as “very different” from Portnow’s, and said some at the academy were resistant to the change, while others welcomed a new approach.

Her appointment, announced in May, was considered a concrete step toward addressing long-standing issues of gender bias in

the music industry in general, and in particular at the Recording Academy. Previously she had been chief executive at (Red), the AIDS nonprofit founded in 2006 by U2 singer Bono.

Following Portnow’s remark, a firestorm of criticism was unleashed at him and the organisation from musicians, male and female, as well as others in and out of the record business.

One immediate result was the formation of a 15-woman, three-man task force, headed by Tina Tchen, former chief of staff to First Lady Michelle Obama, to explore “conscious and unconscious” discrimination against women and people of colour.

The task force’s final report, issued in December, described the aftermath of Portnow’s comments as a “public relations crisis with respect to (the academy’s) commitment to diversity.”

A source familiar with the task force’s operations said recently that under Dugan’s leadership, some of the 18 recommendations contained in the final report have been approved for implementation.

In her first interview with members of the media after the announcement of her appointment, Dugan told The Times, “All the issues that Neil has addressed have led us to a larger conversation, and that is a conversation, of course, that we need to have about women and diversity in music. Where we take it and how we use this organisation to effect positive change, that’s one of the questions I’m most excited to answer in this job.”

How her departure may impact the 2020 Grammy Awards ceremony is unclear.

The Grammys will take place at Staples Center on January 26.

– Los Angeles Times/TNS

INVESTIGATION: Deborah Dugan attends the 2019 Billboard Women In Music event at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles.

FILMMAKER: Imtiaz Ali says: “Film is my way of talking to the younger generation about love.”


COMMUNITY

By Mudassir Raja

The genuine cosmopolitan nature of Doha truly came to life on Friday evening when art experts and enthusiasts of

diverse backgrounds converged at the opening of an exhibition that displays stunning creations of the arts from diff erent countries.

The KatArt Preview exhibition, with over 100 art pieces, was inaugurated at Katara Cultural Village. It primarily serves as preview of the fi rst-ever Katara Global Art Fair (KatArt) all set to take place in October. The exhibition, organised by Pallas Art, an art brokerage company, will run for six days in the Building 19 and 22.

The prudently selected artworks range from paintings, metal sculptures, and ceramics to digital art, video installations and mixed media art. The artists from countries, including Argentina, China, Qatar, Venezuela, Philippines, UK, USA, Turkey, Australia and Lebanon have exhibited their works.

The exhibition’s main attraction is a section showcasing works by Chinese artists Guo Jianyuan, Bokui, and Li Zhongjun. Two sculptures which are an intricate assemblage of a large number of spoons and forks made by Doha-based Filipino artist Danny Ponce were also unique and eye-catching.

Local artists also have strong presence at the exhibition such as Qatari artist Mohammed Faraj al-Suwaidi, who is presenting a video installation and paintings inspired by his recently completed successful residency in New York; Wadha al-Sulaiti, showcasing calligraphic works in mixed media; and Hanadi al-Darwish with a number of her abstract paintings.

Talking to Community, Mariame Farqane, CEO of Pallas Arts, said, “We are actually the fi rst art brokerage in the region. The exhibition is the preview of what is going to happen in October this year – the fi rst global art fair in Qatar. We can actually compare the art fair with Art Basel (Switzerland and Miami), and other major art fairs in the world.

“This exhibition is a sample with diff erent artists from diff erent countries. We are bringing international art scene in Qatar. We want people of Qatar to make it their habit to experience the international art fair every now and then. We are co-ordinating with a local Qatari art company. We are also collaborating with the embassy of Argentina in Qatar. We also work for orphans and kids in need around the world. This year we are working with an organisation from Argentina.”

Talking about the criteria against

which the the artworks are selected, Mariame said, “Usually at Pallas Arts, we put the emerging and established artists in the same scene. Of course, we are very selective in terms of technique, originality and inspiration but the most important element for us is the technique and the message behind an art piece. The target of the company is to put talented artists in the international market.

“We actually tend to highlight all forms of arts. There is fi gurative, modern, and contemporary art. We have calligraphy, calligraffi ti, abstract, and water colour as well.”

Appreciating the art scene of Doha, Mariame said, “There are lots of things happening in Doha as far as art is concerned. We want to contribute to the country’s 2030 vision. There are numerous galleries here besides the amazing museums.”

Franck Gellet, Ambassador of France, said, “I think it is good initiative to have an important art fair in Doha. There is great interest in art here. I see quite a few art collectors here as well. I think Doha will be in the spotlight for contemporary art in future. The presence of Qatar based artists shows that something is happening in Doha.

“I enjoy looking at the works of some amazingly talented artists at the exhibitions. I am glad to discover many interesting art pieces. I see there is a special Qatari eye for the art. The country is becoming a hub of art and cultural activities. We see arts coming from diff erent countries for residency at Fire Station. Similarly, Qatari artists are going for residency in other countries.”

Alessandro Prunas, newly appointed ambassador of Italy, said, “I am really impressed with

the art scene here. I was expecting something interesting but I was not expecting to have such a vibrant cultural activity. I like the diversity

and refl ections of diff erent personal experiences put on display in this exhibition. There are diff erent emotions depicted in diff erent art

pieces. Art is a very emotional way of expressing ourselves. It is like painting your dreams on a canvass,” the ambassador added.

A preview of global creativity, KatArt exhibition leaves visitors awestruck

DIGNITARIES: From left, Mariame Farqane, CEO of Pallas Arts, explaining the artwork on display to Carlos Hernandez, Ambassador of Argentina to Qatar; Franck Gellet, Ambassador of France to Qatar; Alessandro Prunas, Ambassador of Italy to Qatar; and Noelia Paola Romero, wife of ambassador of Argentina, along with other visitors.

ON THE DISPLAY: The prudently selected artworks range from paintings, metal sculptures, and ceramics to digital art, video installations and mixed media art. Photos by Nasar K Moidee

the - gulf times

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