I hope to turn Qatar into a top culture destination: Sheikha Mayassa

I hope to turn Qatar into a top culture destination: Sheikha Mayassa

Paandu
By Paandu

Chairperson of Qatar Museums HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani is hoping to turn Qatar into a world-class destination for culture.

In an exclusive interview to CNN Style in its launch episode on CNN International, Sheikha Mayassa said, “I think for as long as I remember, art has always been part of culture, it's always been part of our identity, whether it's preserving heritage, archaeology, excavations, collecting all sorts of art.”

In recent years, Sheikha Mayassa made bold moves through her work at Qatar Museums to bring some of the world's greatest contemporary artists to Qatar — Damien Hirst and Takashi Murakami among them.

Now, she is turning the spotlight on China — enlisting the country's most explosive artist Cai Guo-Qiang to curate an exhibition of 15 contemporary Chinese artists at QM Gallery Al Riwaq.

On how she views her position as chairperson of Qatar Museums, she said, “I like to see myself as a facilitator. I'm not an expert, I'm not an art historian, I didn't study art history. But I like the diversity of it, I like the collaborative effort between the curator, the artist, us, the government, bringing in new ideas and developing you know, your community and the urban space, the public domain is very interesting for me.”

“If you look at contemporary art today, I don't think artists necessarily see themselves belonging to a country or a nationality... it's very global, and that's what we're trying to do with our young aspiring artists with our new programme...the Artist in Residence in the Fire Station.

“We’re trying to bring the best of the best from around the world...all the most influential people are artists as they say. So, we’ve invested a lot in education and culture, it was the second thing we invested highly in,” Sheikha Mayassa said.

On showcasing some of the world's leading contemporary artists at QM Gallery, she said, “Most contemporary art is provocative and a lot of people say for good art to be art, it should be provocative. When we invited artists such as Murakami or Damien Hirst as such, we're very clear with the artist, you're free to decide on your exhibit but you’re not free to be insulting to our cultural traditions.”

Courtesy: qatar-tribune.com

By Molten Metal• 10 Apr 2016 07:53
Molten Metal

WT, I have to appreciate your inputs which are genuine & fair ............. Keep up with good work ........ only problem is you go too fast some times ...... people affect your thinking .......... don't allow anybody to influence your thought process ............

By shuaibh• 10 Apr 2016 07:50
shuaibh

WT - Thanks for the stats. This makes sense.

It's great to see that education & arts have been prioritized in Qatar. I feel under such encouragement and patronage these numbers will certainly improve.

By Wild Turkey• 10 Apr 2016 07:42
Wild Turkey

MM, Give some constructive suggestions than just posting a neutral comment .............. We must solve the issue

By Molten Metal• 10 Apr 2016 07:41
Molten Metal

Good efforts WT .............

By Wild Turkey• 9 Apr 2016 23:12
Wild Turkey

In Qatar, the average performance in reading of 15-year-olds is 388 points, compared to an average of 496 points in OECD countries. Girls perform better than boys with a statistically significant difference of 70 points (OECD average: 38 points higher for girls).

On average, 15-year-olds score 376 points in mathematics, the main topic of PISA 2012, compared to an average of 494 points in OECD countries. Girls perform better than boys with a statistically significant difference of 16 points (OECD average: 11 points higher for boys).

In science literacy, 15-year-olds in Qatar score 384 points compared to an average of 501 points in OECD countries. Girls perform better than boys with a statistically significant difference of 35 points (OECD average: only 1 point higher for boys).

By Wild Turkey• 9 Apr 2016 23:10
Wild Turkey

Qatar is still the third last country in the OECD PISA study! Just before Indonesia and Peru.

By britexpat• 9 Apr 2016 08:40
britexpat

shafqat: Qatar has made tremendous strides in education and arts.... This is to be applauded.

By shafqat-hayat• 9 Apr 2016 07:14
shafqat-hayat

censorship & suppression is another topic.

By shafqat-hayat• 9 Apr 2016 07:03
shafqat-hayat

impossible . :) whole nation feel pride to speak english, and adopt west culture.. problem starts here...keeping two things at the same time its not the way.

By jj88• 8 Apr 2016 11:00
jj88

Looking forward,afterall Qatar has all the resouces!!Inshallah!

By jj88• 8 Apr 2016 11:00
jj88

Looking forward,afterall Qatar has all the resouces!!Inshallah!

By jj88• 8 Apr 2016 11:00
jj88

Looking forward,afterall Qatar has all the resouces!!Inshallah!

By Molten Metal• 8 Apr 2016 09:57
Molten Metal

WT, I differ, Scientists & Artists vote too & look at the results ......... ..........

By britexpat• 8 Apr 2016 09:37
britexpat

It is great that Sheikha Mayassa is pursuing this. Art enlightens and allows one to imagine - especially contemorary art.

WT makes a valid point too. Perhaps, as a start, it would be better to just opt for artists who would not be too extreme.

By Wild Turkey• 8 Apr 2016 09:30
Wild Turkey

Science and art are free. But this is not the case in this part of the world. Period. And that is one reason why this part of the world stays behind in everything.. That's why they have to buy everything. Censorship comes at a cost.

By Wild Turkey• 8 Apr 2016 09:28
Wild Turkey

A river changes his way unless humans force it to stay in its boundaries. A wise man doesn't go out in the rain and doesn't need an umbrella.

By Molten Metal• 8 Apr 2016 08:43
Molten Metal

WT, Look a river have its banks, a bank has a lock , a { wise } man in the rain has an umbrella ........... humans & nature has their limits same way you please also try to enjoy in the safe zone ............

By Humbles• 8 Apr 2016 08:38
Humbles

Great, Appreciate from the core of my heart.

By Wild Turkey• 8 Apr 2016 08:35
Wild Turkey

"... you're free to decide on your exhibit but you’re not free to be insulting to our cultural traditions.”

Censored art? No, thanks. If a society cannot take artists' provocations, it must be a very weak and immature society.

By AmAm• 8 Apr 2016 07:34
AmAm

We are so happy about it, Thanks.

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