The Qatari-Kuwaiti Relations Exhibition continues with an array of valuable displays featuring traditional heritage relics and handicrafts by Expo965 team members.
Among the exhibitors was Adel Al Sadoun, the astronomer and historian from Kuwait who brought with him some very rare and precious maps and manuscripts of ancient times that document certain eras in the Arabian region.
This is an ancient map printed in 1482 that has full details of the Arabian Peninsula and I bought it through an online auction and added it to my collection.’
He pointed to the name of Catara which refers to Qatar at that time, and it appears on his ancient map, the most precious among his collection. Sadoun also have on display some ancient books dating back to 600 years, including a Quran printed in the early Ottoman reign.
Another participant in the exhibition is a talented Kuwaiti artisan who does a very unique and rare type of art – eggshell engraving. Subah Asad, a lecturer in Fine Arts started his passion in 2004, inspired by a TV show.
This kind of art is very delicate and requires a lot of patience and skill, I have learned in time how to choose the egg and how to carefully carve it.’
He runs regular workshops and courses in Kuwait to teach the artform to youngsters. Asad uses different kinds of egg for his engravings and sometimes buys them abroad – like ostrich eggs from Australia or Africa.
I highly appreciate the efforts of the Cultural Village Foundation – Katara for their host and interest in my art as it is rarely recognised in the Middle East. Katara always supports and values all types of creativity.’
The exhibition also features traditional singing and chants, normally sang in earlier times by the elderly and used to indicate some important events and eras in the history of the GCC region.
The youngest participant and antiques enthusiast in the exhibition was Abdulmajid Bahbahani who brought some of his collections of old car plate numbers, a testament to the different stages of development in Kuwait. Bahbahani also have one of his rare car number plates issued during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and saved from a burned vehicle. He has another car number of the first issuance after independence.
Others in the exhibition displayed some very rare letters and correspondence between Qatar and Kuwait and handwritten documents, some more than 100 years old.
The exhibition is ongoing until Tuesday, 10 July, at Building 18. For more information, visit katara.net.