(MENAFN- The Peninsula) joelyn baluyut |
The Peninsula
Doha, Qatar: Qatar, a country known for its rich heritage and Islamic traditions, has emerged as a thriving hub for arts and culture that rivals Western countries. According to Eva Schubert, Chair and CEO of The Museum With No Frontiers (MWNF), the cultural landscape in Qatar is teeming with projects and activities that mirror those found in Western nations.
Schubert acknowledges the country's strong Arab identity, evident in its language and Islamic roots. However, she emphasised that in terms of culture, arts and museums, the country has made significant strides and has even surpassed Western counterparts in certain aspects.
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“Qatar has produced a lot, and they are even sometimes more advanced in many ways than Western countries,” Schubert told The Peninsula.
Moreover, she explained the availability of substantial financial resources enables museums in Qatar to create exceptional displays and push the boundaries of artistic expression. The Museum of Islamic Art, for example, stands as a testament to Qatar's commitment to showcasing compelling exhibitions.“Museum of Islamic Art has some interesting displays that you can find.”
The Chair and CEO also said that Qatar's art and cultural scene adheres to international standards, particularly when measured against Western benchmarks.
“The kind of communication in terms of arts and culture is really up to international standard, if I define international standards by Western standard.”
“Here, the reference is the European, American world for the museums experience, but it's absolutely amazing, my last visit here was in 2010, and I discovered a lot now.”
Meanwhile, about the country's public art, she pinpointed that Qatar distinguishes itself by not only featuring installations by artists but also integrating exceptional architectural designs throughout its cities.
“In the case of Qatar, it is not only installations from the artists but the city as a whole, you will feel the architectural designs from all over the world, so I say that using the art also to furnish the public space is something important - it educates people from the very beginning.”
Schubert also highlighted Qatar's disciplined social values and how it respects public art, understanding the importance of its maintenance.
“I think the people here are different. And doing public art is important because it raises awareness and people, especially children learn to interact with the art scene from the beginning,” she said. There are over 100 artworks displayed all over the country, turning Qatar into an open-air museum. The latest include Azzm at Qatar Foundation, Toub Toub Ya at Corniche, Gekröse at Corniche, Shelters at Lusail, among others.