QNL exhibition: two facets of World War I
The ‘1918: War is over’ exhibition opened on Thursday at the Qatar National Library (QNL), showcasing visual presentations, which explain the two facets of World War I, and rare items from the Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum.
The unique show, which will run until November 19, is organised by the French embassy in Doha, French Institute of Doha and QNL to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the ‘Great War’.
Newspaper articles, pictures, maps and video clips, as well as rifles provides a glimpse of how the war has affected the lives of people during that period.
“Both World Wars, along with the millions of deaths and all the destruction, taught us that a military conflict should never be an option. The right solution is to discuss and trust in negotiations to end a conflict,” French ambassador Franck Gellet said in his speech.
“Now, I cannot help but think of Qatar, which is currently suffering from an unfair blockade, and which demonstrates such great resilience,” the envoy stressed.
The first part of the exhibition highlights the roles of “Father, mother and child during the Great War” while the second part talks about “Hearing the War: sounds, music and silence in 1914-1918”. It presents how the war disrupted the lives of families and “the day-by-day life of soldiers at the front.”
Meanwhile, the second part discusses the experience of hearing the war, especially for soldiers. The exhibition also reminds visitors about the huge influence of the war on the arts and music. It also showcases how soldiers created a unique musical landscape for themselves despite the chaos.
Gellet cited the participation of French School Lycee Bonaparte and Lycee Franco-Qatarien Voltaire and their students in the exhibition. “The duty of remembrance is fundamental. I also wish to highlight that the school, Bonaparte and Voltaire, continues the duty of remembrance through the works with the students. For instance, the students from Voltaire have helped for the introduction panel of this exhibition,” he said.
The envoy thanked QNL and its executive director, Dr Sohair Wastawy, for hosting the exhibition, which is a tribute to the victims of the war.
“A centenary later, the celebration is to draw lessons for the future,” noted Gellet, as he invited people in Qatar to visit the exhibition.