Qatar Museums, led by its Chairperson, HE Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, this week opened the special exhibition, On the Move, now on view at the National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ) until 14 January 2023.

The exhibition explores the lives of nomadic and semi-nomadic pastoralists across the three distinct regions of Central​ Sahara, Qatar and Mongolia.

Featuring a diverse selection of more than 400 objects – including paintings, historical images, oral historical and archival footage, and contemporary photography – On​ the Move explores how the groups created and maintained rich and​ meaningful social lives while producing complex and beautiful cultural forms in challenging environments.

Collections

Artefacts on display are drawn from the collections of NMoQ, Lusail Museum, Qatar National Library and Qatar Museums, along with loan items from international museums​ including the National Museum of Mongolia in Ulaanbaatar, Musée du Quai Branly in Paris and Weltmuseum Wein in Vienna.

On the Move is one of more than ten exhibitions presented as part of Qatar Creates, the year-round national cultural movement that curates, promotes and celebrates the diversity of cultural activities in Qatar and connects resident and global audiences with Qatar’s creative industries.

The exhibition also forms part of the Qatar-MENASA Year of Culture 2022, an international cultural exchange designed to deepen understanding between nations and their people. As such, the exhibition reflects the creative power and heritage of the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia (MENASA).

In opening the exhibition, HE Sheikha Al-Mayassa said are pleased to officially unveil the exhibition to local and international audiences, especially now, as Qatar prepares for an exceptional year in its history. She said that the exhibition will provide visitors with a window into the past.

We are proud of our Bedouin nomadic culture and here is a moment to experience this.

(Mis)perceptions and (mis)representations

On the Move begins with an introduction to the complex histories and cultures of nomadic and semi-nomadic pastoralists from three different regions in the world: Qatar, Central Sahara and Mongolia. Themes explored in the exhibition include (mis)perceptions and (mis)representations; living spaces and dwellings; pastoralists’ relationships with animals and with the environment; the groups’ rich social, cultural and spiritual lives; historical ruptures; and the influence of nomadic living in arts and culture today.

A gallery on the (mis)perceptions and (mis)representations explores how mass media, art and literature, and academia have played a role in perpetuating stereotypes about nomadic communities.

On view are films, such as Lawrence of Arabia (UK, 1962), and Orientalist paintings and photographs. Contemporary photography of – and by – the pastoralists are juxtaposed with stereotypical depictions, inviting visitors to question and change their perspectives.

Also highlighted are the pastoralists’ living spaces and dwellings.

Designed to be easily assembled and taken down and transported, these dwellings require advanced knowledge of construction techniques, as well as an understanding of the surrounding environment. The gallery features décor from these living spaces and an exploration of the functions of interior spaces.

The exhibition is curated by

  • Professor Lila Abu-Lughod, Department of Anthropology, Columbia​ University
  • Tania Al Majid, Associate Curator of Social History and Ethnography, NMoQ
  • Faisal Al Naimi, Director of Archaeology, Qatar Museums
  • Dr Haya Al Thani, Director of Curatorial Affairs,​ NMoQ
  • Dr Anja Fischer, Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology, University of​ Vienna
  • Dr Elizabeth Turk, Department of Social Anthropology, University of Cambridge

A collection of gifts inspired by the exhibition are available at the NMoQ gift shop.


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