A number of exhibitions and initiatives launched by Qatar Museums (QM) last year are continuing this year too, giving opportunity for more people to explore them.
The third edition of Mal Lawal (‘of the past’) exhibition, which will continue until August 1, at the National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ), highlights the stories of 26 Qatari general collectors and two Qatari car collectors - Salem Saeed al-Mohannadi and Omar Hussain Alfardan.
“Cars gradually began to have a larger presence in Qatar in the mid 1950s. During this time, cars were mainly imported and acquired with the intent to facilitate everyday life activities. For some, this was a turning point in the country’s social history,” QM said in an email to Culture Pass members Sunday.
“The excitement generated by the new experience’s cars provided, was soon transformed into a passion for collecting cars. People collect cars to document and preserve pivotal moments in the nation’s history, evoke a sense of nostalgia, and establish a collection of exclusive classic cars,” QM added.
Mal Lawal, which attracted a large number of visitors, displayed an array of local and regional collectors since 2012, according to QM.
Commuters will also have the chance to see the work of Doha-based artist Abdulaziz Yousef Ahmed (also known as Temsa7 which means crocodile in Arabic) titled “Family Reunion” at the Msheireb metro station.
Ahmed, an illustrator and cartoonist, is one of the participating artists in QM’s public art initiative dubbed as “Jedariart” aimed at “activating shared urban areas and add meaning to the city’s walls through curated murals and street art.”
“A ‘Family Reunion’ encapsulates the Qatari habits of extended family gatherings that take place at family homes or often at their grandfather’s house. Although sharing the same household, the various generations come together with different thoughts and beliefs while still maintaining warm connections amongst each other,” QM said.
Another mural designed by Virginia Commonwealth School of the Arts (VCUarts) in Qatar assistant professor Michael Perrone is also expected to become a “visual treat” at the Doha Festival City Interchange. The artist has brought a 22-metre-wide public artwork to life, which was done by alumni and a student from VCUarts Qatar.
A curated-led tour led by curator Dr Mounia Abudaya is also being organised for the A Falcon's Eye: Tribute to Sheikh Saoud Al Thani”, which opened in August 2020 and will run until April 10 at the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA).
QM noted that “Sheikh Saoud’s legacy as a collector is of crucial importance to Qatar Museums as he laid the foundations of the major collections within the institution. Parts of that collection are on display at MIA, but others remain in storage. This exhibition sheds light on objects that have never been displayed in Qatar before.”
Residents can also join the Club – MIA: Majlis Book Club “to read and discuss a wide variety of books (from 5pm to 7pm at the MIA library) – whose topics link with Islamic Art history, museums and collections, and regional artistic themes.”
Other exhibitions on show also include ‘Lived Forward: Art and Culture in Doha from 1960-2020’ at Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art (until January 16); ‘The Desert Ode’ by Qatari visual artist Jawaher al-Mannai at Gallery 4, Doha Fire Station (until January 23); and ‘Splendours of the Ancient East: Antiquities from The al-Sabah Collectio’ at NMoQ’s Temporary Exhibitions Gallery (until February 2).
VCUarts Qatar assistant professor Michael Perrone's mural at the Doha Festival City Interchange
“Cars gradually began to have a larger presence in Qatar in the mid 1950s. During this time, cars were mainly imported and acquired with the intent to facilitate everyday life activities. For some, this was a turning point in the country’s social history,” QM said in an email to Culture Pass members Sunday.
“The excitement generated by the new experience’s cars provided, was soon transformed into a passion for collecting cars. People collect cars to document and preserve pivotal moments in the nation’s history, evoke a sense of nostalgia, and establish a collection of exclusive classic cars,” QM added.
Mal Lawal, which attracted a large number of visitors, displayed an array of local and regional collectors since 2012, according to QM.
Commuters will also have the chance to see the work of Doha-based artist Abdulaziz Yousef Ahmed (also known as Temsa7 which means crocodile in Arabic) titled “Family Reunion” at the Msheireb metro station.
Ahmed, an illustrator and cartoonist, is one of the participating artists in QM’s public art initiative dubbed as “Jedariart” aimed at “activating shared urban areas and add meaning to the city’s walls through curated murals and street art.”
“A ‘Family Reunion’ encapsulates the Qatari habits of extended family gatherings that take place at family homes or often at their grandfather’s house. Although sharing the same household, the various generations come together with different thoughts and beliefs while still maintaining warm connections amongst each other,” QM said.
Another mural designed by Virginia Commonwealth School of the Arts (VCUarts) in Qatar assistant professor Michael Perrone is also expected to become a “visual treat” at the Doha Festival City Interchange. The artist has brought a 22-metre-wide public artwork to life, which was done by alumni and a student from VCUarts Qatar.
A curated-led tour led by curator Dr Mounia Abudaya is also being organised for the A Falcon's Eye: Tribute to Sheikh Saoud Al Thani”, which opened in August 2020 and will run until April 10 at the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA).
QM noted that “Sheikh Saoud’s legacy as a collector is of crucial importance to Qatar Museums as he laid the foundations of the major collections within the institution. Parts of that collection are on display at MIA, but others remain in storage. This exhibition sheds light on objects that have never been displayed in Qatar before.”
Residents can also join the Club – MIA: Majlis Book Club “to read and discuss a wide variety of books (from 5pm to 7pm at the MIA library) – whose topics link with Islamic Art history, museums and collections, and regional artistic themes.”
Other exhibitions on show also include ‘Lived Forward: Art and Culture in Doha from 1960-2020’ at Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art (until January 16); ‘The Desert Ode’ by Qatari visual artist Jawaher al-Mannai at Gallery 4, Doha Fire Station (until January 23); and ‘Splendours of the Ancient East: Antiquities from The al-Sabah Collectio’ at NMoQ’s Temporary Exhibitions Gallery (until February 2).
