Doha, November 06 (QNA) – The museum sector is one of the remarkable features of Qatar’s modern renaissance which flourishes in harmony with the State’s comprehensive economic, scientific and social development, guided by Qatar National Vision 2023 which made human development the ultimate goal and the balance between material and spiritual values, and authenticity and contemporary, a solid base for construction and urbanization.
The Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) is an embodiment of Qatar’s vision to highlight the role of Islamic civilization in human history and shed light on its rich heritage of science, values of tolerance, arts and beauty through a model that reflects the culture, history and creativity of the Islamic nation and makes the museum a tool for education and promotion of its sciences and arts.
Located in the Doha Corniche event area dedicated to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, MIA will be one of the important tourist destinations that will attract fans of the World Cup, especially those looking for Islamic civilization and its creativity and arts in different eras.
MIA stands tall on an artificial island on Doha Corniche as a high beacon in Arabian Gulf’s waters, whose light guides everyone who seeks knowledge.
It is a platform for international dialogue and building bridges between the past and the present, and the East and the West. The museum houses collections from three continents, from the seventh century to the present time, and is a new international center of learning and innovation.
The 35,500 square meter museum was designed by famous Pritzker Prize-winning architect I. M. Pei. It was inaugurated in 2008, and reopened in October 2022 in a new look following a one-year facilities enhancement project and the reimagination and reinstallation of its permanent collection galleries. The enhancement project also included the inauguration of the Flag Plaza – a new community destination launched as part of the Years of Culture program with the aim of deepening understanding between nations. The Flag Plaza is located near MIA Park offering a new space for gatherings, festivals, celebrations and others.
The reimagining of the collection galleries introduces a comprehensive visitor trail, creates expanded interpretive materials to help contextualize the masterworks, and provides new mobile and child-friendly resources to make the Museum more accessible for families and younger guests. The galleries are organized according to broad historical and cultural themes, periods and geography, and will explore the great traditions of Islamic craftsmanship.
MIA also introduces a new section on Islam in Southeast Asia and focus on the connection between different cultures through exhibits on the trade of commodities and the exchange of ideas across the Islamic World and beyond.
The enhanced and expanded experience ease visitor flow to serve a larger audience with a reframed entrance and upgraded cafƩs and retail locations.
MIA showcases Qatar’s world-class collections of Islamic art spanning some 1,400 years. Representing the full scope of Islamic art from the 7th to the 20th centuries, the MIA collection includes manuscripts, ceramics, metal, glass, ivory, textiles, wood, and precious stones.
MIA presents a changing program of exhibitions illustrating the heritage of the Islamic world, as well as extensive educational activities for school children and families, making the museum a vital part of the community.
The new visitor experience begins on the ground floor with an introduction to the museum itself, with an entirely novel space dedicated to the making of MIA.
The former Majlis has been transformed into an immersive gallery for visitors to learn the fascinating story of I.M. Pei and his daring design for the now iconic museum.
The first gallery on level two serves as an introduction, showcasing some of MIA’s greatest artefacts.
This is followed by an exploration of the origins and spread of Islam, with galleries devoted to the Quran and its history, the Muslim Community (umma), learning and education within Islamic cultures and finally an examination of the expansion of Islam to both Eastern and Western lands.
In their new arrangement, MIA galleries also illustrate the wide variety of materials used in Islamic art, including carpets and textiles, manuscripts, ceramics, wood, ivory, metalwork, stone and glass, spanning Spain and North Africa to the Far East from the earliest Islamic period to the 20th century CE.
Level three takes visitors through the Islamic World from the Mediterranean in the West to the Indian Ocean in the East and beyond, focusing on the arts and societies of the 11th to 19th centuries.
The main galleries focus on the three Gunpowder’ empires: the Ottomans (ruling from Turkey over much of the Arab lands), the Safavids (Iran), and the Mughals (South Asia).
The newly created “Family Trail” is a key component of the gallery refurbishment to engage young visitors on topics that relate to their own lives and experiences. Utilizing new technologies, interactive displays and multi-sensory applications further engage visitors, children and adults alike, throughout the museum.
Adding to the visitor experience, and complementing the many incredible artefacts and artworks on display, guests will encounter images and films of different architecture and sites from the Middle East, listen to the Holy Quran and Arabic and Persian poetry, as well as music from Al-Andalus; they can learn about the different fragrances of herbs and spices that travelled long distances across the Islamic World; and will be able to get a sense of the different materials and decorations used in the arts over time.
(QNA)