Katara building bridges of culture and art as Iranian exhibition opens
As part of the activities at Katara – the Cultural Village accompanying the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, Katara general manager Prof Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti inaugurated yesterday the Iranian Cultural Exhibition in Hall 12, in the presence of Iran’s ambassador to Qatar Hamid Reza Dehghani.
The exhibition will continue until December 18, Qatar National Day.
The Iranian Cultural Exhibition includes various pieces of art, crafts and handicrafts that highlight the nobility of traditional arts and are famous in various Iranian regions.
These have been made by the skilled hands of Iranian craftsmen, and cover the art of making rosewater, saffron, ring art, copper plates, handmade carpets, traditional textiles, painting and engraving on metal, according to a press statement.
A section is also dedicated to traditional Iranian costumes made of pure silk and embroidered with golden and silver threads, and made over four long years – reflecting its ancient civilisation.
There is also a plastic arts pavilion that showcases the works of Iranian artist Mohamed Khazaei, which combines the authenticity of heritage, the beauty of decoration, the charm of letters, and the sweetness of nature and the environment, the statement adds.
The exhibition also hosts a range of cultural activities, artistic concerts and accompanying craft workshops, most notably the Iranian music segment presented by an artistic group, which will present musical evenings that reflect the richness of the Iranian artistic culture throughout the exhibition.
“It combines originality and renewal, and represents the cultural diversity that abounds in the various provinces, regions and cities of Iran,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, the oud instrument exhibition being held at the Katara Oud Centre, behind the Golden Mosque, is witnessing a great turnout of lovers of this musical instrument with a long history.
The exhibition includes playing of the oud, which is held thrice a day – from 1.30pm-2pm, from 4pm-4.30pm, and from 7pm-7.30pm.
Visitors to the oud exhibition can visit the Oud Museum, where variants of the instrument dating back to different historical eras are exhibited.
There are also other models of oud made in different times, and visitors to the exhibition can see archaeological manuscripts that describe the instrument, its kinds and the best types of wood used in making it.
It is expected that the oud instrument exhibition will host a major lecture in which Dr Majid Nazim, the director of Katara Oud Centre, will talk about the history of the instrument all over the world, as well as the existing schools around the world to play the oud.
The Katara Oud Centre organises courses on playing the oud, and these are highly popular with those interested, the statement added.
On the other hand, the 12th Katara Traditional Dhow Festival continues to present various events and activities, attracting a large audience of different nationalities.
The traditional dishes available at the festival cater to foreign visitors who want to discover traditional Qatari cuisine.
These are in addition to developing an interest – among visitors – in traditional crafts and industries showcased at the participating pavilions – inspired by the maritime heritage.
The distinguished performances of an Omani folk band and the accompanying performances add to the atmosphere of fun and entertainment at the Katara Beach promenade.