Photography has come a long way in its relatively short history. In almost 200 years, the camera developed from a plain box that took blurry photos to a high-tech mini computers found in today’s DSLRs and smartphones.
The story of photography is fascinating. An exhibition at Qatar National Library (QNL) focuses on stories of the first practitioners of photography and includes some of the earliest and most rare images of the Middle East.
The exhibition ‘Between Science and Art: Early Photography in the Middle East’, since its opening in September this year, has seen a tremendous interest by the public who are engaging with the exhibition through in-person visits and through social media platforms, according to Giulia Martini (pictured), Historical Photography Archivist at Qatar National Library.
“The concept for the exhibition was to showcase some of the earliest photographic images taken in the Middle East. While sharing the stories of these pioneer practitioners, we also wanted to take the visitor on a journey through the establishment of photography, from the camera obscura—a subject that allowed us to talk also about the contribution of the Islamic world to modern sciences—to the invention of the daguerreotype and modern photography in 1839,” Martini told The Peninsula.
“In its early manifestations, photography seemed to be more of a scientific tool than a form of artistic expression, as is perceived today. Thus, the exhibition aims to address both — material aspects of photography, its influence on the construction of “The Orient”, and the intellectual debate photography sparkled in the Arab world,” she said.
The exhibition is being held at the Heritage Library. It hosts objects from both Qatar National Library and Qatar Museums collections, such as the works by pioneer French photographer Joseph-Philibert Girault de Prangey (1804 – 1892) and the “Giroux Daguerréotype”, a rare example of the first commercially produced cameras.
“The Heritage Library plays a significant role in cultural enrichment locally and regionally and has been making efforts to provide global access to knowledge across regional and international fronts. Historical Photography and its early practice in the Middle East were such areas that we wanted highlight for the public. With a treasure trove of some of the most rare and valuable historical images from renowned photographers in our Library, we believed it would be a great opportunity to explore and share with our communities,” said Martini.
One of the aims of the exhibition is to promote the Historical Photography Archive and the Distinctive Collections. The State of Qatar and Qatar National Library have been investing to develop the growing collection documenting the heritage of Qatar, the region, and the Arab and Islamic world. “As an Archivist and Information Service Librarian, my work is to make these resources available for the people of Qatar and abroad.
“Qatar National Library is well positioned to promote cultural understanding and historical research on the region. The photography exhibition is one such project that the Heritage Library has been working on this year and we are proud to have shared valuable information on the evolution of photography in the region. We encourage local communities and visitors to explore the photography exhibition as it will be open for all until December 30, 2021,” said Martini.
According to Martini, once the exhibition is concluded , the exhibits from Qatar Museums will be returned. “However, people of Qatar and abroad will be able to virtually visit our exhibition with a 360° immersive experience, which will soon be available through the Library’s website.”
In addition, some of the pieces from Qatar National Library will be displayed in the Heritage Library’s permanent exhibition. Furthermore, members can freely access historical photographic material through our Digital Repository and the Heritage Library Reading Room.
