Mathaf gives a new glimpse of its permanent collection

Qatar residents and visitors, as well as students, will have the opportunity to see major artworks displayed at Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art’s newly upgraded permanent collection galleries.Dubbed as ‘Mathaf Collection, Summary, Part 2,’ the museum presents a new interpretation of its extensive collection, bringing together renowned artists and pivotal works that redefine modern and contemporary art practices and historical narratives.“Mathaf houses the largest and most extensive permanent collection of modern and contemporary Arab art in the world. We care for more than 9,000 pieces not all of which can be publicly presented at the same time,” Mathaf director Abdellah Karroum said.Speaking to reporters at a press preview at the museum yesterday, he noted that a chance to make a major update of their permanent galleries serves as an opportunity to tell various stories by artists from across the region, share diverse perspectives, and shed a light on new personal and societal experiences.”Mathaf’s reopening of its galleries this Fall, presented by Qatar Museums (QM) under the leadership of chairperson, HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, highlights new pieces that explore major themes of aesthetics and politics of change, and progress in a pan-regional context.These include the development and influence of the oil industry, rise of new urban centres and cities, and “aspirations of progress in a global, hyper digitalised and networked era.” Curated by Karroum and Mathaf curator Laura Barlow, the new display includes the works of historical artists such as Etel Adnan (Lebanon), Farid Belkahia (Morocco), Saloua Raouda Choucair (Lebanon), Faraj Daham (Qatar), Inji Efflatoun (Egypt), Abdulhalim Radwi (Saudi Arabia), Hassan Sharif (Dubai) and Hussein Zendaroudi (Iran). Mathaf’s galleries also showcase the Mathaf’s permanent collection galleries also showcase the masterpieces of contemporary artists Manal al-Dowayan (Saudi Arabia), Wael Shawky (Egypt) and Hayv Kahraman (Iraq-USA).Shawky’s film Al Araba Al Madfuna III (2015-2016), which premiered at Mathaf earlier this year, will form part of the permanent collection at Mathaf.Mathaf also opened two ‘Focus’ exhibitions with works from the Mathaf collection,’ which highlights some of the region’s most prominent artists with a dedicated gallery of their work on its ground floor. One of the Focus galleries showcases Iraqi artist Ismail Azzam’s tribute to 15 prominent Arab artists and intellectuals while another displays a series of poignant series of portraits titled ‘Our House is on Fire’ by Iranian photographer Shirin Neshat, which tell their own personal stories of struggle. “With this display, Mathaf offers more than access to the works and museum experience, we also propose a historical narrative and strong contribution to the writing of the global art history from a regional perspective,” Karroum said. Mathaf will also present two extensive research exhibitions. The first is dedicated to Iraqi artist Shakir Hassan al-Said (1925-2004), looking at his work from the early 1950s to the late 1990s, when the artist moved away from depicting figures and landscapes towards a more medium-driven representation. The second exhibition is a study of the life and work of Moroccan artist Mohamed Melehi during the decade in the 1960s. From Formation (1959) to Untitled (1970-71), 13 works trace the artist’s curiosity with ideological, scientific and political systems, shaped by formative experiences living in Europe (1955-1962) and the USA (1962-64), before returning to Morocco in 1964 that were grounded in the context of major geopolitical changes and events.The updated Mathaf collection reflects a number of important defining moments in Arab history and artistic innovations in the region, contributing an original perspective to local and global conversations about art and society. Mathaf is open to the public free of charge from Tuesday to Sunday from 11am to 6pm, except on Friday where it is open from 3pm to 8pm. The museum is closed on Mondays.