(MENAFN- The Peninsula) |
The Peninsula
Doha: The Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) reopened yesterday, after undergoing a major overhaul over the past year. The renovated museum features 18 modernised galleries that explore Islamic art, history and culture in a friendly, innovative setting offering visitors a comprehensive visitor trail.
An inauguration ceremony was held yesterday under the patronage of Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani; and Qatar Museums Chairperson H E Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.
Also in attendance were Minister of Culture H E Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad bin Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani; Minister of Social Development and Family H E Mariam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad; and Minister of Youth and Sports H E Salah bin Ghanim Al Ali.
Pic: M Farag / The Peninsula
The officials along with diplomats and cultural emissaries also inaugurated the Flag Plaza which is a new community space initiated by the Years of Culture programme, an international cultural exchange that deepens understanding between nations and their people first unveiled when Qatar won the bid to host the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
Located near MIA Park, it will serve as a community gathering space and a location for festivals, celebrations and other events for the people of Qatar.
A Qatar Armed Forces band performed at the inauguration ceremony, which was followed by the raising of 119 flags representing nations with diplomatic missions accredited by the state, as well as the flags of the European Union, the United Nations, and the Gulf Cooperation Council.
On the reopening of MIA, Sheikha Mayassa said:“It is with immense pride that we reintroduce the Museum of Islamic Art, inviting the community to discover the reimagined museum, and newcomers, including the many visitors who are coming to attend the FIFA World Cup, to experience it for the first time. The 2008 opening of the Museum of Islamic Art was a transformational moment for Qatar, marking the nation's emergence as a new global cultural destination and paving the way for establishing other major museums and cultural institutions in the region.”
MIA Exhibit. Pic by M Farag
“We look forward to the institution's next chapter, which comes on the heels of Qatar Creates, a wide-ranging initiative which showcases and promotes the very best cultural experiences Qatar has to offer to help enhance the lives of all who reside in or visit the country. So many people came together to make today a reality, I thank them for their support and commitment to bringing our culture and history to the heart of our society.”
“The Flag Plaza is an expansive symbol of the diverse community we welcome in Qatar and the rich connections made through cross-cultural interaction. Its meaning is beautifully embodied in Najla Al Zein's stonework creation, which will be a permanent reminder of our global interconnectedness. I invite the people of Qatar and all who visit to make use of this new space, coming together in celebration of our common humanity,” she continued.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani (first row third right); Qatar Museums Chairperson H E Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani (fourth right); Minister of Youth and Sports H E Salah bin Ghanim Al Ali (fifth right); Minister of Culture H E Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani (first right); Minister of Municipality H E Dr. Abdulla bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie (seventh right); Minister of Social Development and Family H E Mariam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad (sixth right) and Their Excellencies Ambassadors and other dignitaries during the inauguration of Museum of Islamic Art, yesterday.
Talking to The Peninsula, MIA Director Dr. Julia Gonnella said the reimagined museum offers a new family trail where visitors can enjoy different family activities.“We have a station where we can learn about astrolabes and how they work. We have smell stations – you can smell different spices that were traded in the Mediterranean and the one in Indian Ocean where you can compare.”
She said each gallery has a new story.“My favourite is the Damascus room because I have a special relation to Syria. I think the one very popular is the Gallery 3 with the Hajj textile for many people here. The Iran room and South Asia rooms are beautiful.” The 'Damascene' room features wardrobes, mirrors and decorative items which include among others calligraphic inscriptions, Arabic prose praising the house, bottle, and jug.
Dr. Gonnella said there is a dedicated gallery for the Indian Ocean.“We displayed objects from the Cirebon shipwreck where we have an activity where you can be an underwater archaeologist.”
Galleries at MIA are equipped with touch screen monitors that explain some objects in the gallery, making it more interactive.
Films depicting the subject of the galleries are also on view. For instance, in Gallery 16, Imperial Arts of South Asia, two touch screen monitors are placed at the entrance where visitors can virtually try on the jewels on the collection: necklace, head dress and earrings.
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