It’s not just the upcoming football battles that are fuelling tourist interest in this remarkable country. Qatar’s museums offer both unique historical exhibits and contemporary art and design exhibitions, such as the recent Once Upon a Bag by Hermès fashion house. Al Riwaq Gallery recently hosted the most expensive American artist Jeff Koons and Fire Station hosted the latest exhibition by one of the world’s most influential fashion designers, Virgil Ablo. Qatar Tourism has a list of outstanding cultural events not to be missed this summer.
Doha Dreams, an exhibition of emerging designers
The works on show at M7 Gallery are inspired by the recent Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams retrospective, the first of its kind in the Middle East. Seven Qatari designers were inspired by the masterpieces of the renowned brand and reinterpreted them in terms of local culture. Among the pieces worthy of special attention are a date palm leaf dress in the form of a “desert rose” and a romantic wedding dress that tells the story of one of Qatar’s main traditions, pearl fishing. The exhibition is open from 8 June to 31 August 2022.
Egal’s new public art installation in Lusaila
Qatar’s street art is not only represented by the work of renowned artists such as Richard Serra, Damien Hirst and Cesar Baldacchini. A number of impressive works by local masters can also be found in different parts of the country. In the newest city of the future, Lusaila, for example, you can view a recently opened installation by Egal artist Shouk Alman. As a tribute to Qatari traditions and customs, it depicts part of the traditional headwear worn by Qatari men.
Your Brain to Me, My Brain to You Pipilotti Rist exhibition
A new large-scale exhibition by internationally renowned contemporary artist Pipilotti Rist presents an immersive video installation, the artist’s first work in the Middle East. Visitors are invited to embark on a journey of self-discovery through a multi-sensory experience. Your Brain to Me, My Brain to You symbolises the collective unconscious of humanity and the power of the mind. A key feature of the installation is “pixels” consisting of 12,000 LEDs distributed throughout the gallery for navigation. Sound accompaniment and a video sequence with Qatari landscapes complete the whole experience. The exhibition is open at the National Museum of Qatar until 20 December 2022.
“Overview of the Qatar Automotive Museum” exhibition
This museum is still in the planning stages. The exhibition dedicated to it showcases the government’s efforts to support the cultural, educational and tourism sectors, major investments in the automotive industry and its leading role as a venue for global automotive events such as the Geneva International Motor Show and Formula 1 Qatar.
Visitors will be able to see the legendary 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO with aerodynamic bodywork, the famous 1939 Pontiac Plexiglass Deluxe Six “ghost car” with transparent bodywork, first shown at the Futurama World Expo in New York. The exhibition runs at the Mawater Gallery of Qatar National Museum until 20 January 2023.
Virtual tour of the Museum of Islamic Art
A grand reopening of the iconic museum, following the renovation, is due to take place later this year. In the meantime, prospective visitors can take an online tour and experience one of the world’s most important collections of Islamic art. Masterpieces from all corners of the globe are on display here, showcasing the diversity of Islamic heritage.
Tours in Arabic and English are available by pre-registration throughout June 2022 at qm.org.qa/en
Photo: Qatar Tourism
