Autumn Exhibitions: Qatar-Germany 2017 Year of Culture | All & About

Qatar Museums brings the best of German design, art and culture to the Middle East

Doha, Qatar – 13 September 2017:

Two distinct and remarkable exhibitions are coming to Qatar this Autumn as major highlights of the Qatar Germany 2017 Year of Culture.

Driven by German Design, developed in close partnership with the Volkswagen Group, will open at Al Riwaq Gallery in October 2017 and trace the evolution of German design over more than six decades. Deutsche Bank, which has built up one of the world’s most important corporate collections of contemporary art, will simultaneously present German Encounters – Contemporary Masterworks from the Deutsche Bank Collection at the Fire Station’s Garage Gallery. Both exhibitions are supported by the German Federal Foreign Office.

Konstantin Grcic, chair_ONE, 2004, Magis

Celebrating the influence and significance of German culture, art and design, both exhibitions reflect Qatar’s continued development as a cultural hub and highlight the diverse and engaging programme of exhibitions and activities on offer in the country.

“The Years of Culture is a visionary initiative to promote mutual understanding between countries through cultural diplomacy. We are excited to celebrate our ties and commonalities with our German partners for the Qatar Germany 2017 Year of Culture by bringing two landmark exhibitions to Qatar in the Autumn,” said Mohammed Al Othman, Public and International Relations Director at Qatar Museums.

Launched in 2012 under the guidance of Qatar Museums’ Chairperson, HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Qatar’s Years of Culture initiative is designed to promote mutual understanding, recognition and appreciation between countries. The initiative encourages the people of Qatar and partner countries to discover their cultural similarities, as well as to explore their differences and engage in mutual dialogue.

Highlights of the Qatar Germany 2017 Year of Culture Programme

Bernd and Hilla Becher
Fachwerkhäuser / Half-Timbered Houses , 1959-1961/1974
Photography, nine-part
Each 40 x 30.5 cm (15 3/4 x 12 in.)
© Konrad Fischer Galerie

Driven by German Design at Al Riwaq Gallery

Driven by German Design opens in October at Al Riwaq Gallery – a vast exhibition space in the heart of Qatar’s museum district. Curated by renowned museum director Prof. Dr. Martin Roth before his passing, it features numerous design objects loaned from some of Germany’s most significant cultural institutions such as the Vitra Design Museum, Neue Sammlung, Porsche Museum and Museum für Angewandte Kunst Frankfurt. The exhibition traces the development of German design over more than six decades, from the 1950’s to the present day and provides a glimpse into the future.

Unique exhibits will celebrate the most important and influential German designers from diverse fields, including product and graphic design, architecture, furniture, fashion and automotive design. The exhibition will feature some items that have never been seen before and highlight the influence of German design on ubiquitous objects such as iPhones, cameras and furniture. It also traces the evolution and development of some of the most iconic cars ever to have been designed, with the Porsche 911 Turbo, Volkswagen Golf and Käfer making an appearance.

Developed in close partnership with the Volkswagen Group, the exhibition covers more than 4,000 square metres and has been organised into five ‘Epoch Rooms’ and a ‘Design Laboratory’ showcasing a mixture of exhibits, videos and images. The visitor experience has been planned and organised into three main sections designed to educate, inform and entertain.

The ‘Design Laboratory’ brings to life the design process in a playful and engaging manner featuring interactive technologies and prototypes. The exhibition offers a comprehensive programme of activity including speeches, presentations and workshops.

It is the largest assortment of iconic German design objects outside of Germany and is expected to draw wide interest in Qatar and across the region.

Joseph Beuys
Filzplastik-Bronzeplastik / Felt Sculpture-Bronze Sculpture, 1964
Pencil and oil on cardboard
25.3 x 24 cm (9 15/16 x 9 7/16 in.)
© VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2017

German Encounters – Contemporary Masterworks from the Deutsche Bank Collection at the Fire Station Artist in Residence, Doha

Another major highlight of the Qatar Germany 2017 Year of Culture is a selection of artworks from the Deutsche Bank Collection – one of the world’s most important corporate collections of contemporary art – on show at the Garage Gallery at the Fire Station.

More than 100 exemplary works on paper including photographs, and paintings by 27 artists provide an informative overview of the development of German art – and thus also of the history of the country – from the 1960s up to the present day.

The first-rate selection of contemporary art features works by Joseph Beuys and by the neo-expressionist painters such as Georg Baselitz and Markus Lüpertz; photographers of the Düsseldorf School, including Andreas Gursky, Candida Höfer, and Thomas Ruff; and hugely influential post-conceptual artists such as Isa Genzken, Rosemarie Trockel and Martin Kippenberger. The collection also includes renowned figurative paintings by Neo Rauch, as well as abstract acrylic works by Katharina Grosse and photographs by Annette Kelm.

The exhibition is hosted in the same space that is home to Qatar Museums’ Artist in Residence programme. Hosting such exhibitions is an important feature of Qatar Museums’ commitment to nurturing emerging talent and inspiring an exciting, creative future amongst artists, local collectors, and the viewing public.

Under the motto “Art works,” Deutsche Bank offers employees, clients and the general public access to the creative and intellectual potential of contemporary art – through its collections in Deutsche Bank offices around the world, in international exhibitions and at the Deutsche Bank KunstHalle. In Doha, a dedicated educational programme, which is jointly developed with the Goethe-Institut, will provide local audiences with insights into the exhibition, as well as into general topics such as “Why Corporate Collecting“ and “The Significance of Light in Art.”

A year-long celebration of cultural activities

The Qatar Germany 2017 Year of Culture is part of the landmark ‘Years of Culture’ initiative developed by Qatar Museums and designed to deepen understanding between nations and their people through mutual exchanges of arts, culture, heritage and sport. It provides a great opportunity to build sustainable links and cooperation between artists, writers, intellectuals and other creative members of Qatari and German society and foster continuous collaboration.

Qatar Germany 2017 Year of Culture follows the huge success of previous Years of Culture, including Qatar-China 2016, Qatar-Turkey 2015, Qatar-Brazil 2014, Qatar-UK 2013 and Qatar-Japan 2012.

The broad and varied programme involves a number of high profile organisations in Qatar including the Qatar National Library, Doha Film Institute (DFI), Katara Cultural Village and the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra.

The festivities were officially launched at the Katara Opera House in February 2017 with the help of the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of German conductor David Niemann and a performance by renowned German piano soloist Gerhard Oppitz. The then invited the Doha audience to explore Germany’s cinematic contributions during the German Film Week, which was attended by many film enthusiasts.

Many German artists, performers and educators have taken part in Qatar Germany 2017 Year of Culture activities so far, including German photographers and designers, German poetry slammers performing at a workshop with the Qatar National Library and entertainers showing off their craft to attendees at the Qatar International Food Festival this April.

For further information on the programme please follow:
www.qm.org.qa/en/years-culture
www.goethe.de/qatargermany2017
SNAPCHAT: qatargermany17
FACEBOOK: deutschesaison.qatargermany2017
INSTAGRAM: ds_qatargermany2017