2024-08-07 13:52:40
This vast exhibition, which will remain open to the public until March 8, 2025, will take visitors on a journey of discovery of Moroccan heritage, highlighting the forces that have shaped the unique identity of this country, it is indicated in a press release.
Organized as part of the Qatar-Morocco Year of Culture 2024, the exhibition presents artifacts, manuscripts, instruments, jewelry and photographs telling the history, society and artistic expressions of the Kingdom, while highlighting its active role in energizing the country’s current cultures.
The exhibition “Splendors of the Atlas” presents a collection of loaned pieces, never before exhibited in Qatar, from various Moroccan institutions such as the National Museum Foundation and the National Library of Rabat.
A series of unpublished works from the collections of the Qatar Museums, the Museum of Islamic Art and the future Lusail Museum will also be exhibited, the same source said, noting that the curator of this exhibition will be Dr. Monia Chokhab Aboudi, deputy director of museum affairs at the Museum of Islamic Art.
On this occasion, the chairwoman of the initiative of the Years of Culture and of the Board of Trustees of the Qatar Museums, Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, quoted in the press release, indicated: “We have the great chance to collaborate with Moroccan institutions within the framework of the Qatar-Morocco Year of Culture 2024”.
This collaboration, she argued, will allow Qataris and residents to better understand the great Islamic traditions of our North African neighbors. “Our shared commitment to expanding knowledge, scientific discovery and artistic excellence has created fertile ground for this cultural year’s rich program,” she said.
The Years of Culture initiative promotes lasting cultural partnerships between Qatar and partner countries, aiming to strengthen respect and understanding between diverse cultures and encourage people to unite.
For her part, the director of the Museum of Islamic Art, Sheikha Nasser Al Nasr, noted that “there is no better place than the Museum of Islamic Art to host this magnificent exhibition, being dedicated to the preservation, exhibition and dissemination of Islamic cultures around the world.”
By organizing this exhibition, we wanted to highlight the multifaceted Moroccan cultural identity, offering visitors the opportunity to explore the country’s rich heritage, she explained, believing that this exhibition creates a bridge between the past and the present, inviting the public to immerse themselves in the timeless beauty of Moroccan culture and its enduring global legacy.
He added that the “Splendors of the Atlas” exhibition is organized into five sections, each addressing a specific theme, illustrating the diverse and interconnected cultures of Morocco and their lasting influence on contemporary life.
This is “Faces of Morocco: Nature and Society,” an introductory exhibition that offers visitors a captivating collection of photographs by Bruno Barbey, Irving Penn, Lalla Essaydi, Mous Lamrabat, and Mounir Raji. These images illustrate Morocco’s environmental diversity and contemporary populations, while also offering insights into the daily lives of Arab and Berber communities and the landscapes they traverse.
“Spirit of Morocco: Kings, Saints, and Thinkers,” an exploration of the history of Morocco’s ruling dynasty that sowed the seeds of knowledge in religious sciences and contributed to scientific advances in Fez and Marrakech, the two major centers of scholarship. This section highlights how Moroccan rulers, direct descendants of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), paved the way for the pursuit of scientific research in astronomy, mathematics, medicine, and other fields. It focuses particularly on institutions of higher learning, such as the University of Al Quaraouiyine, founded by the Muslim Fatima Al-Fihriya in 859, the world’s oldest university still in operation.
“Fabric of Traditions: Moroccan Crafts,” the largest section of the exhibition, explores the central role of crafts in Morocco’s diverse cultures, highlighting the prosperity of many industries passed down through generations, such as leather, textiles, carpets, ceramics, jewelry and woodworking.
The ceramic works reflect Morocco’s Islamic heritage, including Berber and Andalusian influences, while the handmade textiles illustrate the country as a crossroads of civilizations, where influences from Africa, Europe, and the Middle East meet under one roof. This section also includes traditional clothing and jewelry, such as the kaftans worn by women during celebrations and events, showing how designers and artisans have preserved their traditional costumes while adapting them to contemporary needs. The design of this section is inspired by Moroccan craft workshops and markets, offering visitors a captivating experience.
The exhibition also includes a section entitled “Traditional Sounds of Morocco”, which is a presentation of musical instruments from the Dar Jamai Museum in Meknes, used in various creations ranging from Andalusian symphonies from the cities to Gnawa music from southern Morocco.
The exhibits will be accompanied by videos, offering an insight into the distinctive musical heritage of different regions.
“Homage to Contemporary Moroccan Craftsmanship” is a section highlighting Moroccan craftsmanship with a modern twist, featuring seven works commissioned from Moroccan designer Noureddine Amir. The pieces adhere to the standards of traditional craftsmanship while incorporating elements of innovation to become new and striking abstract works, suspended from the exhibition ceiling, accompanied by light installations to better appreciate the texture of traditional textiles and the techniques of their manufacture.
The exhibition will be accompanied by a book containing short essays on the themes covered in the main sections, as well as photographs and detailed information on each work presented. Many pieces from the Qatar Museums collections will be exhibited for the first time.
2024-08-07 13:52:40