Qatar 365 is back home in Doha to continue its special coverage of the Qatar-Morocco Years of Culture 2024, a yearly initiative that aims to deepen cultural ties between countries.
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00:00One object that I really wanted to borrow for this exhibition is one copy of the Qur'an
00:08that belongs to the National Library of Rabat, and it's a unique copy that was copied with
00:13gold ink on dyed green paper.
00:16Qatar really represents the future of style, of innovation, development, architecture,
00:23and art.
00:24I knew exactly when I landed here that I wanted to base my work on that.
00:29Hello, welcome to Qatar 365 with me, Adil Haleem.
00:35On this episode, we're back in Doha to continue our special coverage of the Qatar-Morocco
00:40Years of Culture 2024.
00:42As part of the year-long cultural exchange initiative, Ioanna Hughes visits the National
00:47Museum of Qatar to check out an exhibition by a Moroccan-Dutch fashion designer.
00:52But first, Laila Humaira goes back in time and through the ages of Morocco's unique heritage
00:57to the Museum of Islamic Art's special exhibition on the kingdom's diverse traditions.
01:04From a collage of vivid portraits and street photography, to a set of silver jewelry from
01:09the personal collection of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, and a contemporary art installation
01:15reflecting the diverse tapestry of Moroccan life and landscapes, Splendor of the Atlas
01:20reflects the essence of a country deeply rooted in its fusion of traditions.
01:25The exhibition is a passion project of Dr. Mounia Sheikhab Aboudaia.
01:29It's a culmination of two years of research across Qatar and Morocco for the Deputy Director
01:34of Curatorial Affairs at the Museum of Islamic Art.
01:38When we think of Morocco, it's a very rich and unique country that holds a lot of diversity
01:45in its landscapes, in its people, and its heritage, its traditions, and what I wanted
01:50to convey as a message is that we are moving through a journey, but a journey that tells
01:55us the story, the unique story of Morocco.
01:58Walking through the galleries, the story of Morocco is told through historical objects
02:03from as far back as the 9th century.
02:06More than 200 artifacts from the museum's collection are being displayed here at Splendor
02:11of the Atlas, while some are on loan from Moroccan institutions.
02:15Five sections bridge the past and present, showcasing Morocco's rich blend of cultures,
02:21mixing Amazigh, Arab, Andalusian, African, and Mediterranean influences.
02:27One object that I really wanted to borrow for this exhibition is one copy of the Quran
02:33that belongs to the National Library of Rabat, and it's a unique copy that was copied with
02:39gold ink on dyed green paper.
02:42It's a unique copy.
02:43You will not find any other copies anywhere else in the world.
02:47Other highlights include wooden panels and a metal door from the University of Al-Karawiyan
02:52in Fez.
02:53Considered to be the oldest university in the world, it was founded in 859 by the Muslim
02:58scholar Fatima al-Fihri.
03:01This piece is on loan from the National Foundation of Museums, and it used to belong to one of
03:06the doors leading to one section of the mosque in the Karawiyan mosque in the 12th century.
03:12Not many pieces have survived, and a lot of the metal has been remelted, but then they
03:17kept some of those panels, and this is one of them.
03:20Beyond choosing the artifacts for display, Splendor's gave Dr. Munia the opportunity
03:24to leave a deeper impression on visitors, one that encourages them to look past the
03:30surface of what they see.
03:32My role as a curator was to really convey a message that really goes outside of what
03:37we can present in the media about Islam, about the Islamic civilization as a whole, and how
03:43rich it is from its beginning all the way to contemporary practices.
03:48That's also one of the many goals of the Years of Culture initiative, to transcend the differences
03:53between countries and strengthen the ties that bind, building lasting partnerships.
03:58I think up to the present, we still see the legacy of those years of culture and how we
04:04are still having collaborations and partnerships with those institutions.
04:07So, I think what's important here is that it's an initiative that is not just for a
04:12year long.
04:13It's something that can continue over the decades.
04:19Earlier this year, eight Qatari artists took part in a journey across Morocco where they
04:24immersed themselves in the country's rich Islamic heritage and architecture.
04:28The fruits of that educational trip are now on display here in a vibrant showcase called
04:33Iktashif, Morocco.
04:35Now, to talk about the pivotal role the Museum of Islamic Art plays in the Years of Culture
04:40initiative, I caught up with museum director, Sheikha Al Nasser.
04:45Sheikha, the Museum of Islamic Art is hosting multiple exhibitions as part of the Years
04:50of Culture initiative.
04:52We're in the splendors of the atlas.
04:53We're going to visit Iktashif.
04:55How do these exhibitions fit in the larger Years of Culture goals?
04:59The Years of Culture is a program that was initiated by Qatar Museums in 2012, and it
05:05is part of the broader mission for Qatar Museums to collaborate and have cultural exchanges
05:11between other nations.
05:13And this year, we are celebrating Qatar-Morocco Year of Culture to strengthen the bond between
05:19the two nations and share the cultural heritage between Qatar and Morocco.
05:25Qatar and Morocco every year cut their partners with a new country as part of Years of Culture.
05:28This year was Morocco.
05:30How do you go about curating these exhibitions?
05:32Me and the curator, we went on a trip around Morocco, so we visited numerous exhibitions
05:40and cultural heritage sites where also we've met with museum directors and experts to discuss
05:50how to put the themes of the exhibition together and which objects would fit in the storyline
05:56of the exhibition.
05:57It was a really amazing trip.
06:01We were impressed by the local arts and crafts that has been preserved for centuries until
06:09today and still inspire artists still today.
06:12Speaking of inspiring artists, eight Qatari artists got a chance to go to Morocco as part
06:16of the Iktashif program.
06:18Tell us a bit about that program and why it's important.
06:21So Iktashif, which means explore in English, is an initiative that's been also initiated
06:26by the Museum of Islamic Art.
06:28And each year, we take a group of artists to travel to different countries that have
06:33rich cultural tradition and local arts and crafts.
06:38And this year, it was to Morocco, and they participated in several workshops provided
06:44by artisans.
06:46And upon their return, they create artworks that are inspired by their visit and to show
06:52the influences and the cross-cultural connections between the two nations.
06:57So there's a lot obviously going on inside the museum, but right outside in Mia Park
07:02is the Dar al-Maghrib pavilion.
07:04I was just in Morocco, and it feels like I was transported back to Marrakesh.
07:07That's the point, isn't it?
07:08Yes, yes, that's right.
07:12To provide a journey for the visitors to go through the history of Morocco.
07:17And did you discover anything on your walk through of the pavilion?
07:20Quite a lot.
07:21It's really an amazing experience for the visitors also to learn about the history of
07:29Morocco and local crafts.
07:33And also there is a schedule where we have different craftsmen coming from Morocco to
07:39do a display of how they do ceramics, weaving, different crafts with a live performance.
07:48It's a wonderful way for people who might not be able to physically go to Morocco to
07:51at least get a bit of an experience.
07:53Wonderful.
07:54Thank you so much for your time, Sheikh.
08:00From Morocco's rich cultural heritage and artistic legacy to creativity of a different
08:04kind.
08:05Our next guest is at the National Museum of Qatar to meet celebrated Moroccan-Dutch designer
08:10Mohamed Benchalal, who has brought his cutting-edge couture to Doha.
08:17The dresses on display here at the National Museum may have been created by a designer
08:22with Moroccan and Dutch roots, but step back and Qatar's influence on the collection is
08:27unmistakable.
08:29For Benchalal Monumental Sculpting Past Tomorrow, an exhibition that is part of the 2024 Years
08:34of Culture, celebrated couturier Mohamed Benchalal was inspired by Qatar's landscape,
08:40integrating tradition and innovation.
08:43The first time I came here, I felt that I entered the future.
08:47I also like to think that a lot of countries have a lot of rich history, but for me Qatar
08:53has a very rich future.
08:55Qatar really represents the future of style, of innovation, development, architecture and
09:02art.
09:03So I knew exactly when I landed here that I wanted to base my work on that.
09:08It was in this very same museum in 2021 that Mohamed was chosen as one of the winners of
09:14the prestigious Fashion Trust Arabia, an award founded under the patronage of Her Highness
09:19Sheikha Moza Bint Nasser that supports design talent from the MENA region.
09:24It makes it extra special for Mohamed to be back here three years later for his first
09:29solo exhibition, which he created at Doha's Liwan Design Studios and Labs.
09:34But whether he works in Qatar or elsewhere, some signature design features always stay
09:39the same.
09:40There's always three key elements that you can really find in my work.
09:44It is always playing with a lot of volume, it is the proportion where you place the volume
09:50and everything has a really sculptural cut.
09:52I think those are the three points that you can think of.
09:57Mohamed's namesake label Benchalal is known for its voluminous silhouettes and sculptural
10:01cuts, but also a devotion to slow fashion.
10:05In a world where fast fashion has considerable environmental costs, Mohamed believes that
10:10sustainability is the future of couture, a conviction that was born as much out of ethics
10:15as necessity.
10:16You have to imagine starting a brand or a label, it really requires a huge investment
10:23of capital and I didn't have that.
10:26So first and foremost I had to start with material, with fabric.
10:30I always went to inexpensive markets to buy the leftovers from the industry because that
10:35was the only thing I could afford.
10:37And in today's world it's being really seen as sustainable, which for me was really the
10:41way to even begin.
10:43To this day, it's the fabrics that Mohamed can get hold of that dictate his designs.
10:49And sometimes those textiles come from some unexpected places, like a car upholstery shop
10:54in Doha's Souk Waqif, where he purchased the fabrics used in this collection.
10:59I stumbled on an upholstery for car seats shop and I found really the most beautiful
11:05fabric there.
11:06It's really playing with what you have, sometimes creativity really comes when you have to improvise.
11:12From A-list celebrities to royalty, Mohamed has dressed them all, but he's not putting
11:16his scissors down anytime soon, as there is simply too much inspiration out there.
11:21I like to see myself as a designer nomad, so I'm sure that this won't be the last of
11:27it and I'm really looking forward to see where my journey is going to take me next to base
11:32my work on a different place on the globe.
11:37From exploring the splendors of the atlas to meeting a designer making his mark in the
11:41world of fashion, we hope you enjoyed our special coverage of the Qatar-Morocco Years
11:46of Culture 2024.
11:48But that's all the time we have for now.
11:49For more, check out YourNews.com and connect with us through our hashtag.
11:53Thanks for watching and we'll see you next time on Qatar 365.