*QM and partners also posted online documentaries and films about the plight of Syrian refugees
Qatar Museums (QM) provides an opportunity for residents and people from various countries to view digitally a unique exhibition by renowned Chinese artist Ai Weiwei as part of the World Refugee Day Saturday.
The show, titled 'Laundromat' and staged at the Doha Fire Station in 2018, was a response from QM’s invitation for the artist to bring the powerful commentary on the global refugee crisis to the Gulf region for the first time.
“The exhibition displays the possessions that were haphazardly left behind by the occupants of a vast makeshift camp near the village of Idomeni, on the border with the Republic of Macedonia,” QM said in its email to Culture Pass members Friday.
Laundromat can be viewed through the 360-degree Google Street View, featuring 2,046 items of clothing, a wallpaper of 17,062 pictures relating to refugees and meticulously arranged shoes.
Virtual visitors can move and view in details the exhibited works, including the pictures, videos and thousands of articles of clothing collected from Idomeni.
QM describes the exhibition as “a traveling installation that brings the current European migrant crisis into sharp focus.”
“Working in a wide range of media from architecture to social media, Ai Weiwei is renowned for elevating art practice into a call for action on major geopolitical issues impacting global communities,” QM said.
Museums and galleries in Qatar have remained closed to prevent the spread of Covid-19 but are expected to open on Phase 2 of the gradual lifting of Covid-19 restrictions scheduled from July 1.
The first World Refugee Day was observed in 2001 and it continued annually every June 20 “to communicate to the world the plight of different refugees, why they need protection, empathise with them and also applaud their resilience and spirit to improve their conditions.”
According to the Norwegian Refugee Council, there are 29mn refugees (including 5.5mn Palestinians under the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees’ mandate) out of the more than 70mn people globally who were forced by persecution, conflict, violence and human rights violations to flee their homes.
QM also features a story of a Syrian refugee family on UN Women Youtube channel (360 VR experience), showcasing the struggles faced by many displaced people.
The Doha Film Institute also posted a film ‘Born in Syria’ and directed by Hernan Zin, which was presented at the Ajyal Film Festival in 2016, to mark World Refugee Day. The full film can be viewed via Netflix.
A documentary titled ‘Kids in Camps’ by award-winning online platform Real Stories was also shared on social media. The film focuses on the lives of Sudanese children who have been affected by the South Sudanese Civil War.
The celebration also underlined the efforts of the Qatar government in supporting a large number of refugees through the Qatar Fund for Development and Qatar Red Crescent Society.
These include providing medical, food and health assistance for Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, and urgent relief ($4mn) for displaced Syrians and refugees, particularly children and women.
The show, titled 'Laundromat' and staged at the Doha Fire Station in 2018, was a response from QM’s invitation for the artist to bring the powerful commentary on the global refugee crisis to the Gulf region for the first time.
360-degree virtual visit of 'Laundromat' via Google Street View
Ai Weiwei's 'Laundromat' on show digitally
Born in Syria by Hernan Zin on Netflix
Kids in Camps by award-winning online platform Real Stories
A film about the struggles of a Syrian refugee family
Ai Weiwei's 'Laundromat' on show digitally
Born in Syria by Hernan Zin on Netflix
Kids in Camps by award-winning online platform Real Stories
A film about the struggles of a Syrian refugee family
“The exhibition displays the possessions that were haphazardly left behind by the occupants of a vast makeshift camp near the village of Idomeni, on the border with the Republic of Macedonia,” QM said in its email to Culture Pass members Friday.
Laundromat can be viewed through the 360-degree Google Street View, featuring 2,046 items of clothing, a wallpaper of 17,062 pictures relating to refugees and meticulously arranged shoes.
Virtual visitors can move and view in details the exhibited works, including the pictures, videos and thousands of articles of clothing collected from Idomeni.
QM describes the exhibition as “a traveling installation that brings the current European migrant crisis into sharp focus.”
“Working in a wide range of media from architecture to social media, Ai Weiwei is renowned for elevating art practice into a call for action on major geopolitical issues impacting global communities,” QM said.
Museums and galleries in Qatar have remained closed to prevent the spread of Covid-19 but are expected to open on Phase 2 of the gradual lifting of Covid-19 restrictions scheduled from July 1.
The first World Refugee Day was observed in 2001 and it continued annually every June 20 “to communicate to the world the plight of different refugees, why they need protection, empathise with them and also applaud their resilience and spirit to improve their conditions.”
According to the Norwegian Refugee Council, there are 29mn refugees (including 5.5mn Palestinians under the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees’ mandate) out of the more than 70mn people globally who were forced by persecution, conflict, violence and human rights violations to flee their homes.
QM also features a story of a Syrian refugee family on UN Women Youtube channel (360 VR experience), showcasing the struggles faced by many displaced people.
The Doha Film Institute also posted a film ‘Born in Syria’ and directed by Hernan Zin, which was presented at the Ajyal Film Festival in 2016, to mark World Refugee Day. The full film can be viewed via Netflix.
A documentary titled ‘Kids in Camps’ by award-winning online platform Real Stories was also shared on social media. The film focuses on the lives of Sudanese children who have been affected by the South Sudanese Civil War.
The celebration also underlined the efforts of the Qatar government in supporting a large number of refugees through the Qatar Fund for Development and Qatar Red Crescent Society.
These include providing medical, food and health assistance for Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, and urgent relief ($4mn) for displaced Syrians and refugees, particularly children and women.