Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani yesterday opened the National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ) in its new building in the presence of galaxy of luminaries from all walks of life from across the world. It’s a fountain of immense joy and pride for all citizens and residents alike.
“The National Museum tells the story of our people. It also encourages the discovery of the nature of the country and its historical effects, economy and urban development, and much more. It provides a space to reflect on what Qatar has done and what it aspires to do,” H H the Amir said, while opening the national jewel.
The well-crafted museum is organised in three “chapters” — Beginnings, Life in Qatar, and Building the Nation — presented in eleven galleries, which extends through more than 1.5km of experiences.
The NMoQ celebrates the future as H H the Amir said:”We do not do this to store art collections, to showcase the past, but to enlighten the public in Qatar, residents and visitors, with our past, present and position in the world.
The museum presents our formulation of our past, our environment and our experiences in the perspective of the present. It is therefore a formulation of our Arab-Qatari cultural identity, and museums are not repositories of the past, but our present is embodied in how we read our history and position within humanity in general.”
The original building of the museum was built in 1975 in the old palace of Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani. The initiative and vision of the leadership resulted in the expansion of the museum in which modernity is integrated with the Arab and Islamic civilisation and Qatari heritage.
The NMoQ has already got international accolades from various corners for its design and its narrative style. American news channel CNN has selected the NMoQ in the list of 10 ‘The most anticipated buildings set to shape the world in 2019’. “2019 is also set to impress, with a number of ground-breaking designs and engineering feats due to complete around the world this year,” noted CNN website. “This new 430,000-square-foot museum in Qatar’s capital will feature artworks and precious objects, including the famous Pearl Carpet of Baroda, which is embroidered with more than 1.5 million Gulf pearls,” it added.
In another milestone, the NMoQ was awarded the Best Roofscape honour at the 15th edition of the annual Wallpaper* Design Awards. The NMoQ was chosen as the Best Roofscape winner due to its iconic design, which stemmed from architect Jean Nouvel’s fascination with the desert rose — a natural crystalline formation found in the sands of Qatar. As H E Dr Hamad bin Abdul Aziz Al Kawari, Member of QM’s Board of Trustees, said:
“Qatar is a country with a rich past and heritage. Throughout the ages we have faced many challenges but we were always able to turn them into successes. The National Museum of Qatar is a celebration of what our country has achieved and what it continues to aspire to.”
