Qatar & Morocco: An upcoming exhibition at the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha will feature innovative works from designers in Qatar and Morocco. Titled “Crafting Design Futures,” the exhibition opens on November 30 as part of the Qatar-Morocco 2024 Year of Culture.
The exhibition will showcase unique creations by nine designers from both nations, reflecting the distinctive cultural characteristics of each artist’s homeland.
Curated by Gwen Farrelly, the exhibition will run until January 7, 2025, and will present works produced during the Design Doha Residency Program 2024. This program, known as Qatar | Morocco: Crafting Design Futures, is a key initiative under Design Doha, a biennial event launched in 2024 to promote creative innovation within the Middle East and North Africa region.
“The biennial aims to build networks of exchange and collaboration among regional designers, and the Design Doha Residency Qatar | Morocco: Crafting Design Futures is central to that goal,” Farrelly explained. “This program examines the links between contemporary craft practices and innovative design through an exchange between Moroccan and Qatari creators.”
Qatari designers Nada Elkharashi, Reema Abu Hassan, Majdulin Nassrallah, and Abdulrahman Al-Muftah utilized the traditional Moroccan craft techniques they learned during the program to create multifunctional installations, products, and artistic displays, while also emphasizing significant cultural stories.
Meanwhile, Moroccan artists Amine Asselman, Bouchra Boudoua, Amine El-Gotaibi, Hamza Kadiri, and Sara Ouhaddou focused on earthworks, textiles, wood craftsmanship, ceramic and glass installations, and pottery.
The residency offered these artists a hands-on experience, allowing them to learn directly from expert artisans in each country.
Moroccan participants spent two weeks in Qatar at the Liwan Design Studios & Labs and Torba Farm, where they immersed themselves in local culture and traditions. Qatari participants, in turn, visited studios and artisan schools in Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakech, and Fes, gaining insights and inspiration from Morocco’s rich craft traditions.
Reflecting on the collaboration, Al-Obaidly remarked, “The designers from both countries immersed themselves in each other’s craft traditions — ranging from ceramics to textiles — and developed new works that reflect and support the heritage and contemporary practices of their cultures.”
Abdulrahman Al-Muftah, one of the Qatari participants, incorporated wood—a material not commonly associated with Qatar—into his work for the exhibition. “It was so valuable to our ancestors and why I chose to work with this material for the Crafting Design Futures exhibition,” he told Arab News. He explained that wooden beams, traditionally used in roof construction, were often left uncut, serving as a distinct design element in heritage buildings.
Al-Muftah’s piece for the exhibition is his interpretation of woodworking, drawing inspiration from Moroccan artist Hamza Kadiri’s woodwork, which emphasizes the importance of cultural exchange fostered through the residency. “In Kadiri’s hands, hardwoods become as malleable as clay, with household furniture items emerging as if they were poured into shape,” Al-Muftah said.
“My piece for the Crafting Design Futures exhibition is my interpretation of woodworking, drawing on Kadiri’s innovative techniques to create something uniquely my own.”
The exhibition aims to transcend mere aesthetics and innovation, reflecting Qatar’s broader mission to bridge cultures through creativity. Al-Obaidly noted, “Crafting Design Futures demonstrates the transformative impact of finding inspiration through shared experiences that draw on the wisdom of our ancestors, our lifestyles, and our deep-rooted connections with our societies, landscapes, and environment—all of which collectively shape our unique perspectives, creative endeavors, and shared narratives. Designing opportunities for creatives to engage in programs that have the capacity for such deep experiences is crucial to nurturing talents within the MENA region.”