Qatar National Library (QNL) is participating in the AlMadar exhibition, taking place in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from January 23 to April 23. It a satellite exhibition held in conjunction with the Islamic Arts Biennale 2023. The exhibition brings together individuals and institutions from around the world to showcase their collections of vibrant Islamic artistry and historical artefacts spanning over four centuries of history in a dedicated gallery space.
The Islamic Arts Biennale 2023, organised by the Diriyah Biennale Foundation in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture in Saudi Arabia, is being held at the Western Hajj Terminal at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, traditionally the annual arrival point for millions of pilgrims on their way to perform the Haj in the holy city of Mecca. It will also house the AlMadar exhibition.
The inaugural Islamic Arts Biennale, themed Awwal Bait (The First House), interweaves newly commissioned works and never-exhibited-before historical artefacts and looks at how the Kaabah in Mecca and the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina inspire Muslims – on both cultural and metaphysical levels – to create a sense of belonging in their own home, their own ‘bait’, wherever that may be.
The first edition of the AlMadar exhibition will feature two segments: “Homage,” which pays tribute to prominent figures in the Islamic arts and culture world, and “Celebrating the Journey,” in which the library, as well as other global institutions, will showcase more than 260 objects and artefacts from their Islamic art collections.
“Celebrating the Journey” will also aims to explore the movement of artefacts, people, and ideas. In addition, institutions from various countries, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Egypt, Tunisia, Mali, Greece, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan, will participate by lending significant pieces for the exhibition.
AlMadar aspires to become a global reference and repository for thought-provoking dialogue, exchange of practices, and innovative research around arts and culture from the Islamic world through this edition of the exhibition and future ones.
Hind Al Khulaifi, Director of Strategic Planning and Projects at Qatar National Library said: “We are honoured to participate in the inaugural edition of the Islamic Arts Biennale through the AlMadar exhibition. This is a great opportunity for the library to showcase the rich Islamic arts and cultural heritage that we have in our collection. By participating in this exhibition, we not only promote the appreciation and understanding of Islamic arts and culture but also foster the exchange of knowledge and ideas across the Islamic world.”
