As part of Qatar Creates, Mathaf is hosting ‘Qatar: Close to My Soul,’ a comprehensive look at the development of modern and contemporary art in Qatar, situating it within the country’s broader political, social, and cultural context. The show opened on the 19th of April and will be on view until the 29 of August. Tracing its roots to the 1950s, when formal education and art classes first became accessible, the exhibition explores how visual expression evolved through institutional support, academic study abroad, and a growing engagement with local and regional dialogues.
Structured around three thematic sections—O’mri Qatar, Dewdrops, and Boundless Expanse—the exhibition examines how artists responded to their surroundings and times. O’mri Qatar focuses on depictions of Qatar’s architectural and natural environment, while Dewdrops captures aspects of daily life and society. Boundless Expanse features works experimenting with abstraction and hurufiyya, an art movement that incorporates Arabic script into visual compositions.
Alongside artworks from different generations, the exhibition includes archival material and texts that provide context and continuity, reflecting the changing concerns and methods of Qatari artists over time. It also illustrates how individual and collective practices intersect with wider regional trends.
The exhibition title is drawn from Allah Ya O’mri Qatar, a 1975 poem by Abdullah Al-Hammadi, later turned into a popular song. Its inclusion frames the show within a broader cultural memory, reflecting the emotional and symbolic significance of artistic expression in Qatar.
Qatar: Close to My Soul offers viewers a chance to consider how art in the country has developed through educational, social, and institutional shifts—documenting not only aesthetic practices, but also the values and transformations shaping a national visual language.
Location: Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, Doha, Qatar
Date: 19 April – 9 August 2025