DUBAI: As Qatar gets ready to host the FIFA World Cup 2020 next month, the country is also setting up for a major art renaissance in the form of exhibitions, installations and myriad other events. Here are four new exhibitions that have been launched just this week.
Back to the Future: Pop-up Studios
A brand new Fereej (village) dubbed “Back to the Future: Pop-up Studios” will bring together professionals from the creative industries. The initiative is part of Qatar Creates, the year-round national cultural movement that curates, promotes, and celebrates the diversity of cultural activities in Qatar.
Until Jan. 23, 2023, Fereej Al-Najada will host Qatar-based creatives in seven heritage houses, where they will have the opportunity to promote their artistic expression to the World Cup audience through open studios, art exhibitions, digital installations, and retail stores.
The activation, curated by Fereej Al-Najada’s director Fahad Al-Obaidly, aims to spark dialogue on Qatar’s creative history, displaying what the Qatari creative medium “was, what it is, and what it may become.”
Visitors can expect to experience an authentic Qatari neighborhood, its historical architecture and design, and the craft of Qatar-based talents.
‘Art Mill Museum 2030’
Three major new museums are set to open in Qatar over the next decade, including the Art Mill. The exhibition “Art Mill Museum 2030” will present the vision of this upcoming museum.
“Art Mill Museum 2030” will be on view in two locations: Yhe site of the flour mill on Doha’s Corniche, built in the 1990s, that is being creatively reimagined as the site of the museum, and Al-Najada Heritage House #15.
Each venue will present different aspects of the development of the Art Mill Museum and be free of charge for visitors.
‘Lusail Museum: Tales of a Connected World’
A special exhibition previewing yet another new museum, you can find “Lusail Museum: Tales of a Connected World” at QM Gallery Al-Riwaq. The exhibition, presented as part of Qatar Creates and open until April 1, 2023, will showcase plans for Lusail Museum, its architectural design and its world-class collection of art.
Designed by the Pritzker Prize-winning architects Herzog & de Meuron, the Lusail Museum building will be constructed in Lusail, the home of Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani, the founder of the state of Qatar.
“Lusail Museum: Tales of a Connected World,” will highlight the past, present, and future of Lusail. The exhibition will comprise 247 objects.
‘Safar’: An exhibition highlighting the struggles of Afghan refugees
Qatar Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani unveiled “Safar,” a temporary exhibition organized by the Museum of Islamic Art in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, highlighting the experiences of Afghan refugees following their evacuation in 2021. The exhibition is on view at MIA Park until Jan. 24, 2024.
In his opening address during the ceremony, Al-Thani noted the role of Qatar in orchestrating one of the largest air evacuation operations in history, pointing to the concerted efforts of all concerned authorities in the country to facilitate the evacuation of more than 80,000 Afghan citizens and foreign nationals.
The exhibition explores the experiences of Afghan refugees from a primary perspective to shed light on their unique stories and struggles following the evacuation. The exhibition also highlights the importance of Afghanistan as a center of intellectual debate and artistic excellence for thousands of years.
