The Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art located in Education City offers guests a contemporary Arab perspective on history and culture. It is the home of numerous permanent collections and a host of temporary exhibitions and installations. The museum also offers art workshops for children and adults and is a valuable research center.
The ILoveQatar.net (ILQ) team has put together a quick guide on what to check out at Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art!
The stunning and huge monochromatic portraits of Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser Al-Missned and His Highness The Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani will greet you at the museum entrance.
H.H. Sheikha Moza bint Nasser is the wife of H.H. The Father Amir. She is the co-founder and chairperson of the Qatar Foundation.
H.H. The Father Amir is the father of the current Amir of Qatar, H.H. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
The tour starts on the first floor and the first exhibit to explore are the displays of historical artifacts, images and publications.
These items tell the story of how human civilizations progressed through history. The items are all secured on the shelves, so guests are not allowed to touch and handle them.
Within the area is a projection of images captured through history.
Get a glimpse of how life was back then, important moments in history, and the world's vibrant cultures.
The Mathematics, Mosaics, and Universal Systems of Perception exhibit showcases artwork that depicts fragmentation, modularity, and repetition in paintings and sculptures.
Discover the colour combinations and patterns in the many forms of art displayed.
This gallery showcases the innovation of art by displaying pieces made with mixed materials relevant to the context of the society depicted.
The Truck and Workers piece, in particular, is inspired by the life of the workers in Doha.
The art in this gallery focuses on people and the progress and evolution of civilizations, cultures and societies. Witness the stories of politics, relationships, and human influences from different walks of life.
Discover the beauty and strength of women and their roles in society through the many art forms displayed at the Women in Society Gallery.
The art focuses on the experiences of women and the challenges they go through in their search for independence and freedom.
The Suspended Together installation can be found within the Women in Society gallery and is a display of white doves suspended, some mid-flight and some on the ground.
A closer look at the doves will show that they are decorated with permission documents that allow Saudi women to travel. These travel documents are a requirement by all Saudi women and must be issued by their appointed male guardian.
The artist, Manal AlDowayan, reached out to women of all ages and professions from Saudi Arabia to donate their permission documents for this piece.
“Regardless of age and achievement, when it comes to travel, all these women are treated like a flock of suspended doves.”
This experimental installation presents two artworks by Bady Dalloul.
The first thing that will catch your eye is Ahmad, the Japanese film which was filmed by Bady Dalloul during his residency in Kyoto and Tokyo. It was inspired by the poem 'Ahmad al zaatar' by Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish.
The rest of the area is decorated by lines of minuscule artwork on matchboxes depicting frames and snippets of the Syrian war. The room displays a total of 200 tiny paintings by the artist.
A popular temporary exhibit for families is Dadu's Light Atelier exhibition. This exhibition is catered to kids and those who are children at heart to play with the illusions and colours of lights and their refractions.
Note: Please note this exhibition ends on 11 September 2022.
The Mathaf Library is a research library specializing in general art history, modern art worldwide and art history with a special focus on the Arab world.
The collection is available in multiple languages, including Arabic and English. However, all books can only be used while you are in the library and cannot be borrowed.
One interesting feature of the Mathaf Library is that, if you look closely, the books are housed on a shelf made of stacked books painted in white.
The Mathaf Gift Shop, located right in the museum's lobby, offers a wide variety of Qatar Museum souvenirs, FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 merchandise, art supplies and resources.
After exploring, take a break at the Mathaf Museum Park. There are multiple seating areas with outdoor umbrellas available for guests to get some fresh air and relax.
Note: There are three new exhibitions to launch at Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art by 16 September 2022.
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Cover image credit: Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art
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