‘Mapping Migration Memories’, an exhibition researched and produced by (IN)>TANGIBLE LAB, part of the Institute for Creative Research at Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar), is now open for public viewing at the Company House in Msheireb Downtown Doha. The exhibition will run until 27 January 2024.
‘Mapping Migration Memories’ is the result of a multi-year research project aimed at preserving the intangible cultural heritage of Qatar.
Protecting generational knowledge
The exhibition is a testament to the need to protect generational knowledge and celebrate the sheer grit and perseverance of a population’s ancestors, spotlighting the historical biannual nomadic movements, between the deserts and the seacoasts in and around Qatar.
Gathering and using existing, archived and recorded memories, photos, films and oral histories, the installation traces and reenacts the migration paths of the north and south, capturing the visual and soundscapes of the rugged terrains traversed during their biannual journeys.
VCUarts Qatar faculty, alumni and students make up the core team of (IN)>TANGIBLE LAB that worked on the concept, development and production of the exhibition. The team members include Graphic Design alumni Maha Al Marri, Sara Al Naimi and Latifa Al Ali; student research assistants Sheikha Alanood Al Thani and Natasha Fernandez; the Lab’s Principal Investigator, Graphic Design Chair Astrid Kensinger; and post-graduate Research Fellow Alaa Albarazy.
The core team was assisted by the following
- Art Foundation Associate Professor Maysaa Almumin
- Sound artist and designer Guillaume Rouseré
- Lab consultant and ecological mentor and guide, Dr Aspa Chatziefthimiou
- Filmmaker Fatima Dauleh
- Lab consultant and heritage mentor and guide, Shaima Sherif
- Lab advisor and desert tracker Raviv
- Josh Bell (Project Build and Development)
- David Mathew (Technology Integration)
- Graphic Design alumna and Lab Visual Identity designer, Fatima Nazir
- Business specialist Nishi Rafols
- Exhibition design consultant Louis Philippe Demers
Understanding the relevance of the exhibition
To understand the relevance of the exhibition – and (IN)>TANGIBLE LAB – one needs to look no further than UNESCO’s statement:
Cultural heritage does not end at monuments and collections of objects. It also includes traditions or living expressions inherited from our ancestors and passed on to our descendants, such as oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals, festive events, knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe or the knowledge and skills to produce traditional crafts.
Explaining the aim of the exhibition and Lab, Astrid Kensinger said that as the world becomes increasingly homogenised, Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) elements are vulnerable to being lost or forgotten. She added that (IN)>TANGIBLE LAB seeks to preserve and extend Living Culture with an emphasis on traditional ecological knowledge of Qatar into the future.
Our aim is to capture and physically translate the vibrantly diverse oral histories within Qatar through interdisciplinary lenses.
In this context, physical re-enactment and embodied knowledge are powerful tools for extending intangible cultural heritage, allowing a specific audience or public to experience and participate in a multi-sensory narrative. Kensinger said that this is why the exhibition is immersive – it has sound, touch, texture, film and words directly related to the desert.
Echoes of history
In addition to the physical installation, the exhibition also features a video focusing on Sara Al Naimi as she retraces her ancestors’ biannual migration routes in the north of Qatar; and Maha Al Marri as she tracks her forefathers’ footsteps towards the south of Qatar and into what is currently Saudi Arabia. According to Al Marri, the research project opened her eyes to the importance of preserving and cherishing oral history.
She said that history extends beyond what we learn in school or read in books; there’s more to discover and appreciate in our culture’s precious memories by listening to and observing the tales of the elders.
Alongside her professor and everyone else who contributed to the project, they discovered the power of re-enactment. Al-Marri shared that when she re-lived the journey of her great-grandparents and their steps in the desert sands, she began to pay attention to the sounds of history and eagerly followed its echoes.
The (IN)>TANGIBLE LAB is a sacred space to me, a special place where I feel the stories of our ancestors come alive. It’s a magical link between where we come from and where we’re going.
It’s not just about studying the past, or learning; it’s a personal adventure, a rediscovery of identity, and a commitment to ensuring (that) our heritage thrives in the hearts and minds of generations to come.
Bridging the gap
The location of the exhibition – Company House – couldn’t be more apt.
Situated within Msheireb Downtown Doha, the museum is part of Msheireb Museums, a project by Msheireb Properties and part of Qatar Foundation.
Decades ago, the building was once used as the headquarters for Qatar’s first oil company. Today, it serves as a dedicated space for preserving the oral histories of Qatari pioneers while highlighting the significance of indigenous knowledge in shaping the development of modern Qatar.
Msheireb Museums Exhibitions and Programs Manager Fahad Al Turky said they look forward to welcoming visitors to Msheireb Museums where they can spend valuable time bridging the gap between learning and community enrichment.
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