Reema Abu Hassan, Majdulin Nasr Allah, Abdulrahman Al Muftah, and Nada Elkharashi, all of whom work in Qatar, undertook a weeklong residency in Morocco. They visited the studios of the participating Moroccan makers; studied at a traditional craft centre with master educators of Zellige tiles, wood, ceramics, and textiles; visited sites of contemporary making, and engaged with academics, curators, designers, and artisans. The designers bring this experience to the works included in this exhibition, extending their already robust practices in response to this opportunity for cross-cultural exchange.
The well-established practices of Moroccan designers Amine Asselman, Amine El Gotaibi, Sara Ouhaddou, Bouchra Boudoua, and Hamza Kadiri all reflect a deep dialogue with traditional craft forms. Their disciplinary range extends from textiles and wood to installation work with ceramic, and glass. Each Moroccan designer spent ten days in residence in Qatar, based at Liwan Design Studios in downtown Msheireb. During this visit, they engaged with the Qatar-based designers; met leaders of design and craft fields and engaged with diverse audiences through talks and workshops. The residency in Qatar residency enabled Moroccan participants to expand their practice into new directions, as is demonstrated in the works on view here.
All the works highlighted in Qatar | Morocco: Crafting Design Futures share a deep commitment to the sustainability and support of heritage communities, while also representing innovation within craft and design. In bringing these nine makers together, the exhibition shows how the rich dialogue between nations in our region can spark new and enduring creativity.
