The ‘Mal Lawal’ (from the old days) exhibition currently on in Al Riwaq near the Museum of Islamic Art is proving to be a major attraction.“This is like a journey back in time,” said a visitor who lauded the efforts of the Qatar Museums Authority (QMA) which began preparations for the exhibition more than a year ago.A number of residents, mainly Qataris, had responded to the appeal to loan historical objects in their possession so as to highlight the artistic and human side of the development of civilisations.Hala al-Khalifa, education manager of the QMA Public Art Department, said: “What is extraordinary about this exhibition is that every object tells a tale – there is a hidden narrative in everything on display. Similarly, the paintings tell another kind of story, one of visual expression.”Among the exhibits are priceless objects and pictures and household items used in the olden days.Faisal al-Hitmi, deputy director of the National Museum of Qatar, QMA and CEO of the Mal Lawal Project, said: “The exhibition is a journey through history, time and culture. It aims to influence people by bringing back their memories of the old days, and making them proud of their roots and the cultural diversity here in Qatar.”
The private collections on show are a treasure trove of history. Mohamed al-Sulaiti began collecting 40 years ago. He especially treasures the first two pieces he owned — a copper pot dated 800 AD that belonged to the grandson of Saladin al-Ayoobi, and a meteorite weighing 1,600g.Ibrahim Yousef Fakhro, CEO of Ghanim bin Saad’s Company, began collecting 10 years ago. He was first inspired to begin collecting while working for the tourism authority. His favourite piece is a cloth embroidered with gold and silver threads from Madinah dated 200 years ago during the Ottoman Empire.Jassim Ibrahim Yousef Hassan al-Muhannadi, an employee at the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage, began collecting stamps and coins in 1994, when he was only 14 years old. Describing collectors as “culture savers”, he says he loves learning about culture, people and history from his hobby.
Al-Muhannadi’s collection includes a set of Qatar and Dubai currency notes and coins as well as some Islamic and Ottoman pieces.Rare early manuscripts of the Holy Qur’an, and medical and scientific documents and literary works in Arabic, objects of yellow amber, and magnificent pearls are part of an impressive collection from Sheikh Hamad bin Abdullah bin Jasim al-Thani.A section of the exhibition gives a fascinating glimpse of the everyday equipment in use until the mid-20th century. Among these are rough wooden mortars and pestles, weaving tools, leather cradles, a game board, and the bulky frameworks of the litters in which women and children could ride atop camels when families moved from camp to camp.There is also a display of photographs of Qatar and its people, many taken in the 1940s and 1950s and on show for the first time, from the extensive collection of Nasser al-Othman.A large part of the exhibition is devoted to smaller collections loaned by individual citizens, including stamps and banknotes of Qatar and nearby regions, and a vast range of the items that were in use by the people of Qatar until the late 1950s – ornate beds decorated with panels of painted glass depicting peacocks, woven hangings, clothes, kerosene lamps and fans, babies’ cradles and feeding bottles, even the tins and packets of proprietary foods that were in common use.Running concurrently with the display of loans from private collections is an exhibition of fine paintings and sculptures by 68 local artists, including such well-known names as Faraj Daham, Ali Sharif, Jassim al-Zaini and Wadha al-Sulaithi.The Mal Lawal Exhibition will be open to the public until October 11. Entry is free. Visitors will be the first to preview Wathiq, an online forum allowing users to explore, learn and share Qatar’s heritage. It aims to provide different generations with the opportunity to contribute and share the stories of Qatar which will be archived in the project’s website.A series of talks by collectors, artists and critics will be held in the hall, accompanied by film screenings. The principal sponsor of Mal Lawal is Occidental Petroleum of Qatar.The exhibition runs daily except Tuesdays. The timings are 10.30am to 8.30pm on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday and 2pm to 8.30pm on Friday.