Qatar Museums (QM) offers an array of activities and initiatives, as well as exhibitions, for different age groups in the country to explore during the ongoing summer season.
Designers and enthusiasts will be fascinated with the “the reimagined designs and creation” of seven local creatives at the second edition of Zwara: Doha Dreams pop-up exhibition.
The show, which kicked off on June 8 at M7 Msheireb and running until August 31, displays the works of Mashael al-Naimi, Layla al-Ansari, Haytham Sharrouf, Maryam al-Majid, Aliya al-Obaidly, Nada al-Sulaiti, and Muna Saad.


NMoQ's Mawater Gallery features iconic cars from QM’s collection. PICTURE: Joey Aguilar


According to QM, these designers were inspired by the recent Christian Dior’s first retrospective exhibition, Designer of Dreams, held at M7 from November 6, 2021 to April 2.
The one-of-its-kind show displays a selection of pieces that have never been shown before, including ensembles from the private collection of Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser.
“Zwara is a fluid programme that seeks to spark creativity and collaboration against the backdrop of Qatar’s creative landscape. Held yearly, it’s an invitation for creatives to explore exhibitions, archives and collections and then respond to a design brief, showcasing the importance of storytelling and experimentation in design.


The second edition of Zwara: Doha Dreams pop-up exhibition features “the reimagined designs and creation” of seven local creatives". PICTURE: Qatar Museums


“For this second edition, the participating designers were invited to explore the themes, culture and moments featured in the recent exhibition Christian Dior Designer of Dreams. Each designer was then tasked with reimagining the luxury and aesthetics reflected in Dior’s work through their own lens,” QM said on its website.
Qatar residents and visitors can also visit National Museum of Qatar’s (NMoQ) Mawater Gallery for “A Sneak Peek at Qatar Auto Museum Project”, which will run until January 20, 2023. It serves as an introduction to a “new museum that will bring Qatar’s car community under one roof and one mission”.
The exhibition explores the significance of automotive design in the 20th century and the impact of automobiles on culture, previewing the content of the new museum. Presented both inside and outside the museum, it features three iconic cars from QM’s collection and approximately 20 unique cars on loan from members of the Qatar Auto Museum advisory board and Qatar’s community of automobile enthusiasts.
The Qatar Auto Museum, designed by the Office for Metropolitan Architecture, led by Pritzker Architecture Prize-winning architect Rem Koolhaas, will be located along the Lusail Expressway between the 5/6 Park and Katara – the Cultural Village, in the former exhibition centre building that hosted the first Qatar Motor Show in 2011.
Artists can still participate in QM’s three open calls: 5/6 Initiative, Jedariart Initiative, and Student Initiative. The deadline for submitting of application is on August 5.
According to QM, 5/6 requires artists to propose a permanent public artwork that speaks to the local community while Jedariart aims to activate urban areas and promote artistic intervention in designated districts.
The Student Initiative, meanwhile, “invites students and alumni to propose a permanent or temporary public artwork”. This year’s edition urges student participants “to think about the dialogue they want to spark through their work”. The selected artist will be commissioned to create their proposal with the support of the Public Art team.
QM noted that a number of workshops and other activities (online and face-to-face) are being organised at a number of museums and cultural centres in Qatar.
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