Doha, Qatar: Qatar Auto Museum is proud to present Ultraleggera: A Design Journey with Marcello Gandini Between Italy and Qatar, an exhibition co-produced by the future Qatar Auto Museum (QAM), the MAUTO – Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile in Turin, Italy, and VCUarts Qatar. The exhibition originates from the vision and tenacity of VCUarts Qatar Associate Professor Simone Carena, who in 2022 successfully convinced Marcello Gandini to embark on his first-ever masterclass project in collaboration with QAM and VCUarts Qatar.
The exhibition was unveiled by HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums, in the attendance of Mohammed Saad Al Rumaihi, CEO, Qatar Museums, Sheikh Abdulaziz Al Thani, Director of National Museum of Qatar, HE Paolo Toschi, Ambassador of Italy to the State of Qatar and Alberto Cirio, President of the Piedmont Region and Stefano Lo Russo, Mayor of Turin.
The exhibition is the result of the Marcello Gandini Masterclass Project Moving Interiors with Marcello Gandini, a collaboration between QAM and VCUarts Qatar. Inspired by Gandini’s groundbreaking legacy, this initiative allows students to deeply engage with his design philosophies. Gandini (1938-2024) is known as the inventor of the supercar, and his iconic designs (including the Lamborghini Miura, Countach, Diablo, and Lancia Stratos) continue to influence the automotive world. The exhibition is a tribute to his profound impact on design, showcasing key elements of his legacy that span his illustrious career.
As project leader and art director, Professor Carena also serves as co-curator of the exhibition, alongside Marzia Gandini, daughter of Marcello Gandini and Founder of Think PR. The exhibition contents are co-developed by the curators and Gautam Sen, author of the latest monograph on Gandini’s design legacy. Celebrating the groundbreaking principles of one of the automotive world’s most influential figures, Ultraleggera centers on Gandini’s revolutionary lightweight design philosophy. The exhibition will debut at the National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ) from April 22 to June 2, 2025, before travelling to MAUTO in Turin from June 19 to August 31, 2025.
HE Dr Hessa Sultan Al Jaber, President of Qatar Auto Museum, said, “Marcello Gandini’s work is a defining part of automotive design history, and this exhibition is a powerful opportunity to honor his legacy. By pairing his iconic creations with the innovative work of VCUarts Qatar students, a meaningful dialogue has been created between past and present, Italy and Qatar. It’s a celebration of Gandini’s influence, and a chance to showcase the fresh perspectives of emerging local designers.”
Benedetto Camerana, President of Museo Nazionale dell'Automobile said: “As Chairman of MAUTO, I am deeply pleased to give a vibrant start to our long-term international collaboration with the Qatar Automobile Museum. Our first joint program is this important exhibition dedicated to Marcello Gandini, to his vision and legacy, promoting young people's creative energy.
Both the Marcello Gandini Masterclass Project, promoted by QAM with VCUarts students, and the MAUTO Summer School to be held in June in Turin, in deep collaboration with Torino Polytechnics and Marcello Gandini Studio, focus on the power of young design as a creative process capable of building bridges between generations and cultures".
The showcase integrates important models, sketches, and prototypes on loan from Gandini’s studio, offering a rare glimpse into the evolution of his visionary work. With “movement” as a key theme—both as a design element and a symbol of cultural exchange—the exhibition challenges spatial, cultural, and creative boundaries, offering visitors a dynamic, thought-provoking experience.
On view are experimental works created by VCUarts Qatar students through the Moving Interiors With Marcello Gandini Masterclass, with a special focus on 3D-printed “moving interior” installations and models that reflect their interpretations of Gandini’s design philosophies. By blending Gandini’s influential legacy with fresh perspectives from Qatar’s rising designers, the exhibition creates an immersive fusion of past and future.
“This exhibition represents a significant milestone in our commitment to nurturing creative innovation and cross-cultural exchange in partnership with Qatar Museums. By bringing together Marcello Gandini's pioneering design legacy with the fresh perspectives of our talented students, we are creating a multi-layered experience that reveals and celebrates Gandini’s innovative design principles,” said Amir Berbić, Dean, Virginia Commonwealth School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar).
Open to the public as part of Qatar Creates 2025 and developed with resources from QAM, MAUTO, and VCUarts Qatar, this initiative also marks the beginning of a long-term collaboration between QAM and MAUTO – Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile reinforcing the strength of design as a universal language. Following its presentation in Doha, the exhibition will travel to MAUTO in summer 2025 where it will be accompanied by the first Summer School on car design, organised in collaboration with Turin Polytechnic and Marcello Gandini Studio. As part of the Qatar Creates programming, a talk that took place on April 22 entitled Driving Urban Futures: The Role of Cultural Industries in Shaping Cities, explored how cities can build thriving cultural ecosystems through strategic investment, institutional collaboration, and cultural tourism. The talk is moderated by Jelena Trkulja, Senior Advisor for Academic and Cultural Affairs, QM and with the participation of Stefano Lo Russo, Mayor of Turin, Benedetto Camerana, President, MAUTO Museum and a prominent architect and Irina Bokova, Former Director General, UNESCO.
