MIA Park hosts over 40 ‘Tamim Al Majd’ murals

Qatar Museums (QM) chairperson HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani has opened a one-of-its-kind exhibition yesterday at the Museum of Islamic Art Park, featuring more than 40 ‘Tamim Al Majd’ murals donated by members of the public.
Dubbed as Tamim Al Majd: Celebration of Unity, the exhibition gives residents and visitors an opportunity to take a closer look at the messages of support and solidarity by residents and visitors on the murals during this moment in Qatar’s history. The opening night, which was attended by QM officials, VIPs and the families who donated the murals, reinforced “the rallying spirit that has swept Qatar in recent weeks.”
“We have seen an incredible outpouring of support from the people of Qatar for His Highness the Emir and the country over the past two months, leaving no doubt of the true spirit of the country and the many people who have made it their home,” QM’s chief strategic planning officer Khalid al-Ibrahim said in a statement.
“As the guardians of the country’s heritage and culture, we at Qatar Museums wanted to capture this significant moment in Qatar’s history and the artistic expression it inspired by giving it a bigger platform and audience,” he added. The portrait, widely recognised by its title as ‘Tamim Al Majd’ or Tamim The Glorious has become the face of Qatari resilience during the ongoing economic blockade imposed by the Saudi-led group.
Qataris and expatriates of all ages, backgrounds and nationalities have been writing messages of solidarity, patriotism and loyalty on these giant billboards to express love for the country and His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.
Bearing the iconic image of His Highness the Emir created by young Qatari artist Ahmed bin Majed Almaadheed, thousands of outdoor murals have been installed around Doha in an unprecedented stream of support for the country’s leadership. The iconic portrait has become very popular across Qatar and in many countries after it was posted on social media by the artist.
According to QM, social commentary conveyed through graffiti art has long been a popular form of discourse and self-expression, making this community-borne effort ever more important in establishing an organic connection between art and the local community.
The personalised “graffiti” messages are some of the truest examples of public art in Qatar, which now join the many public art works placed throughout the country by QM, to mark a significant milestone in Qatar’s modern history.
QM seeks to push the boundaries of the traditional museum model, and create cultural experiences that spill out onto the streets and seek to involve a wide audience.