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QATARI

Doha in Qatar is a flourishing centre of artistic expression
that is a magnet for the world’s art enthusiasts and collectors

f you are a connoisseur of art, you hunting. And, until June 2016, you can
can’t ignore what’s happening in see Qajar Women, which looks at the
Qatar. This Gulf state – a land representation of women in nineteenth-
of romantic deserts, futuristic century Iran through paintings
Iarchitecture, and long, white beaches and photography.
– is one of the most creative artistic hubs Outdoors, in MIA’s park, cutting-
in the world. That’s partly because Qatar edge installations include a sculpture by
values its art and encourages its artists. As Richard Serra, the American minimalist
a result, artistic expression is flourishing, artist. This is a remarkable 80ft-high
and the country is now a key under-the- steel artwork standing on MIA’s pier,
radar destination for anyone who wants to overlooking the intense blue waters of the
keep ahead in the world of art. Persian Gulf.
The art trail doesn’t end there. Make
CREATIVE CENTRE sure you don’t miss the Arab Museum
Qatar’s capital city, Doha, is home to at of Modern Art, which has the largest
least three world-class museums, many collection of modern and contemporary
public art installations and a lively art from the Arab world. It will overturn
artistic community. The museums – and challenge your ideas about recent
whose permanent collections are free to artistic expression in the Middle East. It
enter – include the Museum of Islamic has more than 6,000 pieces, figurative
Art (MIA). The acclaimed Chinese- and abstract, that tackle personal and
American architect, I.M. Pei, designed political subjects. Or for a glimpse of the
this magnificent building on Doha’s skills and traditions of Qatar’s past, pay
Corniche and its collection covers 1,400 a visit to the Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim
THIS PAGE Hiking on Qatar’s desert years of art. Highlights include sixteenth- Al Thani Museum, whose remit is to
sand dunes OPPOSITE FROM TOP century Iranian silk textiles, the Cavour preserve the art, history and traditions of
Museum of Islamic Art in Doha; from Vase, a fine example of enamelled the Qatari people.
its collection a brass, gold and silver and gilded glass, and a tenth-century To add to Doha’s already rich and
inlay pen box (Western Iran, 1262-
astrolabe from Iraq. Regular exhibitions varied collection of art, the Qatar
1284). Restored Souq Waqif and the
focus on aspects of Islamic art. You still National Museum, designed by the
mosque of the Kassem Darwish NICOLAS FERRANDO; ANJA HILD
have time to catch The Hunt, a show of French architect Jean Nouvel, opens
Fakhroo Islamic Centre
objets d’art from Turkish and Qatari next year. It will examine Qatari history
collections that reflect the theme of royal through its art and culture.