Tribune News Network
Doha
‘On the Move’, the first travelling exhibition produced by National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ) opened at the National Museum of Mongolia, located in Ulaanbaatar, on Tuesday. Sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Qatar, the exhibition’s premiere in Mongolia follows extensive collaboration with the National Museum of Mongolia on the initial showcase, which was presented at NMoQ in October 2022.
On the Move, which formed part of the Qatar-MENASA Year of Culture 2022, first debuted in Doha, Qatar, from October 26, 2022, to January 14, 2023, captivating audiences with its portrayal of nomadic culture and heritage from the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia. The exhibition garnered significant attention during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and was one of Qatar Museums’ (QM) most visited exhibitions that year.
Now, showcased outside of Qatar for the first time, the exhibition shifts its focus to the practices of Qatar’s nomadic pastoralists. Through a stunning array of objects, historical images, and archival footage, On the Move highlights the complex and beautiful cultural forms – as well as the meaningful social relationships – created and maintained by pastoralists in Qatar, who move with the herds that they tend. Visitors can explore the traditions and social values embedded in nomadic life, from the intricacies of daily routines to special occasions like weddings and religious celebrations.
The exhibition, featuring artifacts loaned from the collections of NMoQ and QM, will run until August 11, 2024, at the National Museum of Mongolia, providing a unique opportunity for the Mongolian public and visitors to engage with Qatar’s heritage and culture.
NMoQ Director Sheikh Abdulaziz Al Thani commented, “On the Move takes visitors on a unique historical journey throughout our past. We are proud of be presenting this special exhibition outside of Qatar for the first time, celebrating our longstanding ties with Mongolia, and sharing our culture with the world.”
Director of the National Museum of Mongolia Enkhbat Galbadrakh said, “The National Museum Mongolia is glad to open the On the Move exhibition. We are reflecting on the diversity of human civilization and the pastoralism value of nomadic culture, and this special exhibition gives the Mongolian audience a unique opportunity to feel the value of comparing the culture and history of Qatar and Mongolia.”
The exhibition opening was officially inaugurated by Sheikh Abdulaziz Al-Thani in the presence of Tania Al-Majid, dputy director of Curatorial Affairs at NMoQ, Dr Alexandra Bounia, senior museum development specialist at NMoQ, Sung Hyun IM, head of conservation at NMoQ, Najma Ahmed, social and oral history researcher at NMoQ, and Talal Radan Al Shammari, protocol coordinator at NMoQ.
