QATAR. In celebration of this year’s Trinity Forum (30-31 October) in Doha, The Moodie Davitt Report is proud to bring readers and Trinity delegates a series called Qatari Wonders that highlights the cultural attractions of Qatar.
The Trinity Forum, organised by The Moodie Davitt Report, ACI and ACI Asia-Pacific, is this year being jointly hosted by Qatar Airways, Qatar Duty Free and Hamad International Airport.
The Moodie Davitt Report Founder & Chairman Martin Moodie said, “In a troubled and divided world, travel retail plays an important role in creating mutual international tolerance and awareness of other cultures. We do not see the hosting of our premier conference as just a commercial occasion but one in which we also celebrate the culture, tastes and traditions of the host country. Qatar is a nation rich in history, resplendent with natural and man-made attractions, and renowned for its magnificent art collections and architecture.
“We know that Trinity Forum delegates will savour this fascinating cultural tapestry and we are proud to highlight it during the run-up to the event.”
1. MATHAF: Arab Museum of Modern Art
Mathaf is a must-visit attraction for Trinity delegates. This world-renowned facility is designed as a resource for its visitors, local and global, to learn about modern Arab art.
The magnificent institution, founded in 2010, is situated in Education City in Qatar Foundation, in a renovated former school building.
Qatar Foundation is led by HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser. Mathaf is part of Qatar Museums, led by H.E. Sheikha al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.
Mathaf organises major exhibitions, both historical and experimental, and large-scale education programmes, thus playing an important role as a centre for dialogue, research, and as a resource for fostering creativity.
Mathaf also hosts solo and group exhibitions by artists from the region, and events that explore and celebrate modern and contemporary art.
How it began
In the early 1990s H.E. Sheikh Hassan bin Mohamed bin Ali Al Thani started building a collection of modern and contemporary art, mainly focusing on the region and its historical and cultural connection from North Africa to Asia and from Turkey and Iran. The first space of Mathaf, situated in two private villas in Madinat Khalifa in Doha, was imagined from the idea of what an Arab Museum of Modern Art might look like.
The development of the museum continued as an inspiring space for dialogue and scholarship about modern and contemporary art with artists in residency in Doha, and also as a place for art production and display. Today Mathaf is focusing on showing the permanent collection and producing major shows based on new commissions.
What’s on during The Trinity Forum
El Anatsui: Triumphant Scale: 1 October 2019 – 31 January 2020
El Anatsui (born 1944, Anyako, Ghana) is perhaps Africa’s most prominent living artist, according to Mathaf. This exhibition encompasses every media used by the artist in his remarkable 50-year career, focusing on the triumphant and monumental quality of his sculptures, with the signature bottle cap series at the heart of the presentation.
Along with these ambitious works, the exhibition includes wood sculptures and wall reliefs from the mid-1970s to the late 1990s; ceramic sculptures of the late 1970s; and drawings, sketches and prints.
Saturday to Thursday: 9:00am – 7:00pm
Friday: 1:30pm – 7:00pm
