By Umer Nangiana

With the opening of a splendid pictorial arcade, an exhibition of photographs from the two countries, the Qatar-Turkey Year 2015 kicked start the much-awaited fall season at a perfect note. The remainder of the year of culture is packed with grand cultural shows and events about Turkey in Qatar and vice versa.
The photography exhibition, ‘New Angles, New Perspectives’, featuring four photographers, two each from Qatar and Turkey, recently opened for public at Katara Cultural Village. It is a unique visual interpretation of this year’s Qatar-Turkey Year of Culture. It showcasing spectacular places and people from the two countries and is running till the end of this month.
This year of culture has already witnessed some extravagant events on the theme before summer and there is much more to come.
“Celebrating the longstanding relationship between the two countries, Qatar-Turkey Year of Culture aims to forge new and support existing partnerships the arts, education and sport while promoting an awareness and appreciation of each country’s culture, achievement and heritage,” says Qatar Museums.
Besides the photography exhibition, there are two not-to-be-missed exhibitions starting this month at Qatar Museums Gallery in Katara and Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) respectively.
The first one, starting September 17 at QM Gallery in Katara, will take you to a tour of Harem Al Sultan. ‘Magnificent Century: The Exhibition, Special Edition, Harem Al Sultan’ will run till December 12 this year. The exhibition made its world premiere in Istanbul in November 2014 and will travel to Doha for the first time.
Evocative, entertaining and impressive “Harem Al Sultan: The Exhibition” takes visitors on a journey through the palace of ‘Harem Al Sultan’ to experience what it feels like to be living in an era of greatness and dangerous ambitions.
From very first episodes to unforgettable scenes, the large multimedia exhibition will present the original décor, costumes and accessories used during the show. Guests will get an up-close and personal look at the artistry and craftsmanship that went into creating the iconic props and costumes that appeared throughout the famous series illustrating the life and times of Suleiman the Magnificent.
When ‘Harem Al Sultan’ first broadcasted in 2011, nobody expected that the Ottoman Empire would be conquering the world again, yet after the first season it quickly became a phenomenon. From Italy to China, airing in more than 54 countries, the show has reached more than 200 million viewers worldwide.
An interactive adaptation of the historical fiction, Harem Al Sultan: The Exhibition reveals the life in the Palace and more.
These authentic artefacts will be displayed in elaborate settings inspired by locations from the Palace including the Harem and the Hamam. Exclusively-made hyper realistic silicone sculptures will enhance the feeling of being with the Sultan and his family.
It is a chance to step inside a glorious world with Suleiman the Magnificent. The 2000-square-foot exhibition which includes artefacts and costumes as well as rich interactive extensions is a chance to know more about the unforgettable and beloved characters of the soap opera.
Starting this September is also another grand exhibition, the Turkish Treasure Trail at MIA. Turkey has played a major role in the arts and cultures of the Islamic world. From the rule of the Central Asian Seljuq Dynasty in the 11th century until the fall of the Ottoman Empire in the early 20th century, Turkey was the cradle as well as the crossroads of a rich variety of Islamic art, made for Sultans and viziers as well as ordinary patrons.
A self-guided tour through the collection of the museum will reveal the beautiful and significant works of Turkish art in the collection of the MIA.
Late in October, the Turks are coming over for the Turkish Festival and Bazaar from October 29-31. Presented by QM and Turkish Ministry of Culture, the festival will present the rich and varied cultures of Turkey in Qatar and as part of a weekend of events presented at the MIA Park.
Some of Turkey’s leading musicians and dancers will perform in a beautifully conceived outdoor setting that will include a bazaar, Turkish tea house, stages, food stalls and children’s play area.
Turkey will be celebrated with music, film, children’s activities and delicious Turkish food. The content of the festival will reflect the history and heritage of Turkey with design evoking the colours and sights of the country.
Activities will include a Karagoz shadow play and workshop, calligraphy and marbling classes, and exhibitions of photography and historic Turkish film posters.
In between the exhibitions and the Turkish festival, there will be a series of lectures by eminent scholars on ‘Archaeology and Heritage Conservation in Turkey’, starting from September and running till November.



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