The Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) has launched Ektashif – Turkey 2021, an art exhibition inspired by the historical landmarks and traditional Islamic art techniques of Istanbul. Opened last night by Qatar Museums CEO Ahmad al-Namla, the exhibition features works by eight Qatari artists – Muna al-Bader, Mashael Hejazi, Naima al-Hail, Ali al-Kuwari, Zainab al-Shibani, Salha al-Subaie, Ahmed al-Ali, and Nouf al-Muraikhi – who recently visited Turkey as part of a collaboration with ‘Doha Capital of Culture in the Islamic World for 2021’ and the Ministry of Culture and Sports.
An annual initiative, the Ektashif 2 trip took participating artists to key historical sites such as Aya Sofia, the Blue Mosque, Rustem Pasha Mosque, Yavuz Selim Mosque, Mihrimah Sultan Mosque, Yeni Valide Mosque and Topkapi Palace, and covered daily workshops on traditional arts practices, including Iznik ceramics, paper marbling (Ebru), Islamic illumination, and drawing on glass. Each artist then had to produce four to five artworks inspired by their visit and take part in a public discussion panel on their creative experiences in Turkey.
Located at the Fire Station Qatar, the exhibition will be open to the public daily from 9am to 7pm until January 13, 2022.
