DOHA,
Qatar, Nov. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --The Museum of
Islamic Art (MIA) unveiled Splendours of the Atlas: A Voyage
Through Morocco's Heritage, on view until 8 March 2025. Organized as part of the
Qatar-Morocco 2024 Year of Culture, the exhibition
presents around 200 objects to tell a multifaceted story of
Moroccan history, society, artistic expressions, and how they
continue to animate the nation's cultures today. The opening
reception was attended by Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa Bint
Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Chairperson of Qatar Museums and
the Years of Culture initiative, and Princess Lalla Hasna of Morocco.
Splendours of the Atlas includes loans from Moroccan
institutions including the National Foundation of Museums and the
National Library of Rabat that
have never before been shown in Qatar. Previously unseen works from the
collections of Qatar Museums, MIA, and the future Lusail Museum are
also on display. Splendours of the Atlas is curated by Dr.
Mounia Chekhab-Abudaya, MIA Deputy Director of Curatorial
Affairs.
Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani said, "We are
extraordinarily fortunate to partner with institutions across
Morocco for our Qatar-Morocco
2024 Year of Culture, which will greatly expand the ability of
Qataris and those living in Qatar
to gain insight into the grand Islamic traditions of our neighbor
in North Africa. Our shared
commitment to scholarship, scientific discovery, and artistic
excellence has created a fertile basis for this year's rich Year of
Culture program."
Years of Culture spearheads long-lasting cultural partnerships
between Qatar and other nations.
It exists to promote respect and understanding among diverse
cultures.
Splendours of the Atlas is organized thematically:
- "Faces of Morocco: Landscapes
and Society" will immerse visitors in a mosaic of photographs by
Bruno Barbey, Irving Penn, Lalla Essaydi, Mous Lamrabat, and
Mounir Raji.
- "The Soul of Morocco: Kings,
Saints, and Scholars" delves into Moroccan dynastic history.
- "Threads of Tradition: Morocco's Artisanal Mastery" explores the
pivotal role of crafts in Morocco's many cultures.
- "Traditional Sounds of Morocco" presents musical instruments that are
used to create everything from the Andalusian melodies of the
cities to the gnawa music of the South.
- The final section is an ode to contemporary Moroccan
craftsmanship. If features seven commissioned works by Moroccan
artist Noureddine Amir, which
respond to traditional crafts while reinventing them as new
abstract works that hang from the gallery's ceiling.
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SOURCE Qatar Museums