Museum of Islamic Art Doha, Qatar - Coursework Example

Museum of Islamic Art, Qatar, Doha Museum of Islamic Art opened its doors in December, 2008 and almost immediately the world was awed by the bedazzling spectacle. Museum of Islamic Art or MIA was designed by I.M. Pei. The master of Museum architecture once again brought justice to his name by accepting the challenge to build a spectacular museum, which would contain the most expensive and intricate Islamic art that the world had ever seen, without any prior experience in Islamic architecture. I.M Pei first travelled the world and studied Islamic architecture. Finally his hard work paid off when MIA, which was built on a standalone island, earned fame as one of premiere Middle East cultural destinations. The serving director of the museum when it first opened was Sabiha Al Khemir. Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, wanted to make Qatar a cultural destination and her flagship project was MIA. She gave her vision and idea to some of the best hands and minds in the world and it all paid off. Even after she was removed from the position as the Chairperson of the Qatar Museums Authority Board of Trustees, MIA remains a place for those who seek knowledge about rich Islamic culture. THE STRUCTURE AND DESIGN “This was of the most difficult jobs I ever took”- were the exact words that the architect chose to describe the beauty. The plan was to create something that will perfectly complement the Islamic artworks which would later be displayed at the Museum, instead of creating a staggering structure which would completely overshadow the artwork. But, one look at the magnificent structure will tell you that the master architecture had managed to pull it off really well. The man-made island on which MIA has been built has an array of palm trees on either side of the path leading to the Museum entrance. The simple stone structure is chiseled perfectly and exudes extreme finesse. The structure is inspired by the Ibn Tulun Mosque, Cairo and looks extravagant in spite of its minimalistic design. The total floor area is about 45, 000 sq m. The entrance is flanked by two arched windows. The hemispherical dome has a classic geometrical pattern which has been achieved by utilization of stainless steel plates. The interiors of the museum are a classic example of blend between tradition and modernization. The main building is five storied. There is also an Education wing which is just two storey high. The Education wing has classrooms and houses a library too. Workshops are frequently held in this wing for students and researchers alike to spread the rich Islamic culture and history. THE MUSEUM BUILDING The idea behind the Museum was to display real Islamic artworks so that every visitor develops a connection to the Islamic era and realizes the true beauty, diversity, of ancient Islamic art forms. Ancient artifacts ranging from the 600 CE to the nineteenth century has been displayed at MIA. In fact every single piece of display had been procured from places where Islamic influence was evident. These places include Egypt, Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Spain, India and Central Asian countries. Preserved manuscripts, ancient textiles, ceramic works and even ancient carpets are some of the most prized displays at MIA. All artifacts and artwork have been displayed in galleries. The galleries have a high atrium. ANCIENT PERSIAN CARPETS MIA has the largest collection of Safavid Persian carpets. Different carpets have been collected with much difficulty from various places and some even had to be bought off in auctions. Around 90 carpets, kilims and textiles from the early 18th century were collected. 10 extremely delicate Persian carpets and 3 carpet fragment from the ancient workshops in Tabriz and Kashan are on display. The Tabriz Rothschild Medallion Carpet is one of MIA’s prized possessions. The carpet is a wool pile on cotton foundation with intricate designs that stand out against a dark blue background. The central Medallion is sixteen lobed and is outlined by a rich navy blue band. Another famous rug is the- Four Pregnant, Senmurv Rug. Detailed study of this rug by researchers revealed that it hailed from Anatolia in the first part of the 14th century. Among other well know names Sarre Ardabil shrine Animal carpet, Cartouches silk rug, Shah Suleiman Tabriz Hunting Carpet with Medallion, Palmette and Arabesque Polonaise rug, Layla and Majnun Kashan silk tapestries etc. Beside these names some other silk tapestries and Safavid carpets are also on display. MIDDLE EAST CERAMICS AND BRASS EWER The Islamic culture was well known for ceramic works. Ceramics were first created using clay, sand and quartz. At first these ceramics were used as plates, glasses etc but when Islamic craftsmen learnt new decoration techniques and styles they started to use ceramics in architecture too. Some of the oldest ceramic displays at MIA include- a 9th century Ceramic Iranian bowl, a thirteenth century luster bowl and a tenth century dish. It is believed that the Muslim potters were very much influenced by Chinese ceramic works and tried to shape their own ceramic wares in a similar manner. But, the exact ingredients for making Chinese ceramics were not available in those times so the Muslim potters used a glaze on the body of the bowl to give a more ceramic look. Also on display is a beautiful brass ewer, i.e. an old fashioned jug with a wide opening. The patterns and the motifs on the ewer’s body is similar to other 13th century ewers which are on display in other Islamic Art Museums and thus it is believed that this particular ewer at MIA hails from the 13th century too. OIL PAINTING Among the best attractions of MIA, is a 17th century Safavid Oil painting which shows an Afghan couple adorned in traditional garments. The painting is life size and the couple depicts the Upper-class of Persia. This particular painting was first exhibited at the Royal Academy of London in 1931 and won accolades for its life-like expressions. HIND, FOUNTAIN HEAD A hind from a 10th century Andalusian palace has been procured from Spain for exhibition at MIA. The quality of the sculpture is really good and extremely detailed. This brass hind in its original form could spurt out water and must have been used beside a fountain in the Andalusian palaces. The well-sculpted body exudes a definitive aura without seeming too life-like. Abaresque designs are found near the hind legs and the body gives an impression that the Hind was adorned in a garment and the rosette-like design on the head and a slight braid on the mane suggest that it was ceremonial. THE FAMOUS DOHA BUCKET One of the most talked about displays at MIA is a bucket originating in the 14th century Mamluk glass industries. Mamluk glass designers were craftsmen who strove to make things more and more beautiful. Thus, this bucket also has intricate designs of red enameled glass all over the body. JEWELS Islamic jewels bear traditional Islamic calligraphy and decorative patterns. Shah Jahan’s jade amulet is on display at MIA. The smooth white jade amulet has inscriptions on the inside. Historians have established that the inscriptions are actually verses from the Holy Quran. Historians say that this amulet was designed for those who suffered from heart “palpitations” and was supposedly made after the death of Shah Jahan’s beloved wife- Mumtaz Mahal for whom he build the Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. OTTOMAN CALLIGRAPHIC ALBUM Calligraphy is believed to have its roots in the Middle Eastern countries. Seyh Hamdullah was an Ottoman calligraphy master. Some pages from the Murakka album of calligraphy are on display at MIA. Trained calligraphers believe that modern international calligraphy style has originated from Hamdulla’s Otto man style of writing. An “Imperial Decree” in Ottoman Turkish is displayed at MIA. Ink and pure gold had been used to write on the paper. The imperial decree is a “Ferman of the Sultan of Istanbul” and dates back to 1559 A.D. The navy blue writing had been outlined with gold and the confident calligraphy turns this official decree into something worth keeping in MIA. There are many such valuable displays at MIA which have historical importance too. Important manuscripts and books on Islamic culture have also been preserved. IDAM The top floor of the museum has been made in to a restaurant. The restaurant is well furnished with modern furniture and lighting arrangements. The food is mostly French- Mediterranean with a slight Arabic twist. MIA PARK The MIA Park lies adjacent to the main museum building and is used by visitors to take a break. One can simply stroll around and enjoy the scenic view. MIA PARK BAZAAR The bazaar consists of temporary stalls that give the visitors a rare opportunity to experience local Qatari cuisine and purchase local arts and crafts. It is an excellent platform to experience the Qatari lifestyle from a close range. The Bazaar comes to life only on the first Saturdays of each month. REFERENCE Frances M. “Carpets in the Museum of Islamic Arts,Doha”.A Museum of Masterpieces, 1-12 Pollard. L.“Doha Museum Stakes Cultural Claim”, One Minute World Update.BBC news, 23rd November 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7744586.stm (Retrieved on 30th november 2012) Read More