The Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) is hosting a series of Iraqi-influenced events such as Iraqi film screenings, curator-led tours, calligraphy workshops, and panel discussions for the wider community to mark ‘Iraqi Week’ from February 17 to 23.
In a press statement, Qatar Museums said the ‘Iraqi Week’ also celebrates the last week of the Baghdad Eye Delight exhibition, which features objects on loan from 22 world-renowned institutions, including the Louvre, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Benaki Museum, the Vatican and the Barjeel Foundation.
MIA will be hosting a range of activities, including educational workshops on Kufic calligraphy and lectures. Architect Hisham A Munir will deliver a lecture on ‘A Personal Journey of Modern Architecture of Baghdad’ tomorrow (February 17). A panel discussion featuring Dr Alexandrine, Rob Carter and Andrew Petersen on ‘The Abbasids in Baghdad and their link with Qatar’ will take place on February 20.
Children can look forward to various activities such as Round City Lego, Playing Cards inspired by El Malwiya, Baghdad Cafe Worksheet, Arabic letters soft play (Arabic calligraphy that took place in Abbasid Iraq) daily from 12noon to 4pm during this week, as well as story time and colouring related to Baghdad at the Library.
'Iraqi Week' will also feature two curator-led tours in the Baghdad: Eye’s Delight exhibition on February 19 and 23 respectively, as well as two Iraqi films titled ‘Marshes’ and a film on ‘Latif Al Ani’ – popularly known as the father of Iraqi photography, will be showcased at the venue. The two curator-led tours, lecture, and panel discussions will require prior registration at [email protected]. The Iraqi Week’s full programme list along with its respective dates and timings can be found here - https://mia.org.qa/en/calendar/iraqi-week-at-mia/.
The Baghdad: Eye’s Delight exhibition is on view at MIA’s Temporary Exhibition Gallery until February 25. Jointly curated by MIA director Dr Julia Gonnella and the museum’s curatorial team: Dr Mounia Chekhab Abudaya, Dr Tara Desjardins, Nicoletta Fazio and Simone Struth – the display takes the visitor on an imaginary tour across centuries, highlighting Baghdad’s role as a city of power, scholarship, and riches.