Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra performing Desert Rose
Doha: Providing recognition and support for the artists and people of the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia (MENASA), and sending a strong message of pride in Islamic and regional culture on the eve of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, the Qatar Museums (QM) Years of Culture initiative celebrated its tenth anniversary on Oct 30, with the world premiere of a commemorative symphony, The Desert Rose, performed by the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra at the National Museum of Qatar.
The event was just one example of the robust Year of Culture — offering of exhibitions and programmes — currently celebrating the nations of the MENASA region.
Nine exhibitions of Islamic art and regional culture are now open across Qatar’s museums and galleries as part of the initiative. Major works by MENASA artists have been installed at public sites throughout Doha and the nation. Community days for the people of MENASA nations have been celebrated and special screenings held at the Ajyal Film Festival.
H E Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums, said: “To mark the 10th anniversary of the Years of Culture initiative, as well as the historic occasion of Qatar hosting the first FIFA World Cup in an Arab country, Years of Culture has partnered not with one nation but with the entire MENASA region. We are using the spotlight of the World Cup for good by sharing our platform with regional artists to help promote narratives from the region, by the people of the region. Qatar has become a thriving hub where regional talent can find its voice. Years of Culture collaborated with artists like Najla El Zein from Lebanon, as well as incredible Qatari talent like Bouthayna Al Muftah and Yousef Ahmed. We firmly believe that cultural initiatives promote tolerance and harmony between cultures and societies and take great pride in seeing regional talent succeeding in Qatar.”
On Oct 4, a ceremony inaugurated the new Flag Plaza in the Museum of Islamic Art Park with the raising of 119 flags representing the MENASA region and all nations with embassies in Qatar. From Oct 5 to 10, Community Days Festival was held at the Plaza where different nations performed cultural presentations.
In addition to unveiling Najla El Zain’s sculptural benches at the Flag Plaza, October has brought the works of a wide range of Qatari and regional artists to public places throughout Doha and the nation.
Among the new highlights three monumental works by Lebanese artist Simone Fattal were installed at the Northern Heritage site near Al Zubarah; sculptures by Qatari artist Shua’a Ali were placed in Msheireb and Grand Hamad Plaza; a work by Qatari artist Shouq Al Mana was unveiled on the Lusail Marina Promenade; a light installation by Iraqi artist Adel Abidin was added to the façade of Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, to accompany the works by Egyptian artist Adam Henein and Iraqi artist Ismail Fattah.
Kuwaiti artist Monira Al Qadiri’s Zephyr was placed on the West Bay’s North Beach; Iraqi sculptor Ahmed Al Bahrani’s Dugong Family was placed in Al Ruwais; and Shezad Dawood, a UK-based artist with both Pakistani and Indian heritage, contributed to Al Masrah Park an artwork that serves as a playground.
A special gathering was held in October of JEDARIART, the programme that brings together local artists to add vibrancy and meaning to walls throughout Doha by painting murals and other forms of street art. In this Year of Culture initiative of JEDARIART, artists made works celebrating and promoting the popular Pakistani and Indian tradition of hand-painted trucks
Special exhibitions that were launched in October, celebrating both the heritage and the contemporary creativity of the MENASA region, include Baghdad: Eye’s Delight; Qatari-American artist Sophia Al-Maria’s INVISIBLE LABORS daydream therapy; Palestinian artist Taysir Batniji’s No Condition Is Permanent; One Tiger or Another; Qatari artist Al Maha Al Maadeed’s Inspired by the Land; Majaz: Contemporary Art Qatar; Reesha; Safar; Labour of Love: Embroidering Palestinian History; and On the Move.
As a special event to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the Years of Culture initiative and celebrate the 2022 Year of Culture with the MENASA region, the National Museum of Qatar hosted the world premiere of The Desert Rose symphony, commissioned by Years of Culture from the renowned Syrian-American composer Malek Jandali, who is now the honorary composer-in-residence of Qatar Museums.
