Qatar National Library’s photography exhibition, “Between Science and Art: Early Photography in the Middle East,” will kick off on 20 September at the Library. The exhibition will be inaugurated by His Excellency Dr. Hamad Bin Abdulaziz Al-Kawari, Minister of State, Qatar and President of Qatar National Library, and will be open to the public until 30 December 2021.
The exhibition will offer significant insights into the history and development of photography, both in the region and internationally. The event will feature original daguerreotypes, photographic equipment and a stereo viewer. It will also showcase a camera obscura installation. The exhibition will also include works of renowned photographers and scholars from the region and around the world, and will provide an overview of Arab contributions to the development of photography and the invention of the camera.
During the three-month exhibition, visitors can also attend a diverse lineup of related events and workshops and engage in thoughtful conversations about photography.
On the occasion, His Excellency Dr. Hamad Bin Abdulaziz Al-Kawari, Minister of State, Qatar and President of Qatar National Library, said, “As a beacon of knowledge and culture in Qatar and the Arab region, we are committed to expanding community knowledge around Arab history, achievements and art forms. Through the photography exhibition, the Heritage Library will shed light on the prominent role of Arab scholars in the advancement of this field. We will create an environment of history, culture and pride for our citizens and residents, who will have the opportunity to maximize their knowledge and experience the evolution of photography and science in the Arab world. We will continue to invest our efforts towards making the Qatar National Library a source of knowledge and creativity.”
The inauguration ceremony will be attended by His Excellency Jean-Baptiste Faivre, Ambassador of the French Republic to the State of Qatar; Dana Al Ghafri, Head of Museum Documentation at Qatar Museums Authority; and well-known photographers Mashael Hejazi and Khalifa Al- Obaidly, Director of Tasweer Festival.
As a regional center of learning, research and culture, the Library continues to invest efforts in cultural enrichment in Qatar and beyond. Through the photography exhibition, the Library will provide access to global knowledge, offering an opportunity for members of the local community to learn about the significance and evolution of photography over the years. Visitors will enjoy and value the informative and creative displays and will have the opportunity to test some early photography equipment first-hand.
While the photography exhibition will be one of the first large-scale in-person events for visitors in the Library since the beginning of this year, the Library will continue to implement its safety measures during the exhibition to provide a safe and sanitized environment for visitors. For more information on Library and exhibition visits, please visit our official website (www.qnl.qa) and for a complete list of exhibition related events, please visit the Events page on the Library’s website (www.qnl.qa/en/events).
