(MENAFN- The Peninsula) The Peninsula
Doha: General Manager of Cultural Village Foundation Katara HE Prof. Dr. Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti inaugurated the 'Smurfs 65th Anniversary Exhibition' today, May 3, at Katara Building 47, Hall 1.
Organized by Katara in cooperation with the Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium to Qatar, the opening ceremony was attended by the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium HE William Asselborn, and a number of Their Excellencies Ambassadors, representatives of diplomatic missions, and the media.
In his speech, HE the Ambassador of Belgium expressed his happiness at holding the exhibition, which allows people to know more about the Smurfs, saying:“Even though the Smurfs are world-renowned, they are originally from Belgium. Many probably do not know that they are the product of rich Belgian animation. They are probably the most famous cartoon characters Belgium has produced."
He added: "If you travel to Belgium you will find a lot of places associated with the Smurfs, such as the Smurfs statue in the shape of a mushroom in the center of Brussels or the Smurfs Museum. Our new Belgian passports also contain illustrations of Belgian cartoon characters Belgian, which also include the Smurfs."
At the end of his speech, HE the Ambassador thanked Katara for its continuous efforts in opening up to different cultures, shedding light on them, and providing the opportunity to organize the exhibition.
The gallery presents original artwork that shows the evolution of the Smurfs from their comic origins to their success in movies, TV shows, and video games.
It included illustrations of the Smurfs' origins from 65 years ago, as these characters were created in 1958 by the Belgian cartoonist Peyo, whose real name is Pierre Culliford, and they first appeared in the Belgian comics magazine 'Spiro' as supporting characters in his comic book of medieval heroes Johan and Peewit.
Since its inception, the Smurfs have conquered the world, with 40 albums sold in over 70 countries, 5 movies, and nearly 300 episodes of the animated series available in 40 languages on the official Smurfs YouTube channel.
The Smurfs have gained critical acclaim for their values of friendship, togetherness, and harmony. Through merchandise, movies, and theme parks featuring these lovable characters, the Smurfs have captured the hearts of people of all ages, with their whimsical world and cute personalities.
The exhibition will run until May 17, 2023, from 10 am to 10 pm in Hall No. 1 of Building 47.