MIA is hosting a series of Iraqi-influenced events in the ongoing 'Baghdad: Eye’s Delight' exhibition

The Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) is hosting a series of Iraqi-influenced events as part of the ongoing 'Baghdad: Eye’s Delight' exhibition at the museum The events include Iraqi film screenings, curator-led tours, calligraphy workshops, and panel discussions for the wider community to mark ‘Iraqi Week’ from February 17 to 23. 

This historic ‘Iraqi Week’ also marks the last week of the spectacular Baghdad Eye Delight exhibition that features objects on loan from 22 world-renowned institutions, including the Louvre, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Benaki Museum, the Vatican and the Barjeel Foundation. 

Visitors are recommended to not miss experiencing this exhibition that promises to take them on an imaginary tour across centuries, highlighting Baghdad’s role as a city of power, scholarship, and riches.  MIA will be hosting a range of activities, including educational workshops on Kufic calligraphy and lectures to promote this significant week that will leave an imprint upon Qatar’s cultural landscape.

A lecture titled ‘A Personal Journey of Modern Architecture of Baghdad’ will be held by prolific architect Hisham A Munir on February 17 (tomorrow), and a panel discussion featuring Dr. Alexandrine, Rob Carter, and Andrew Petersen on ‘The Abbasids in Baghdad and their link with Qatar’ will take place on February 20.

Children can look forward to various activities such as Round City Lego, Playing Cards inspired by El Malwiya, Baghdad Café Worksheet, Arabic letters soft play (Arabic calligraphy that took place in Abbasid Iraq) every day from 1212 pm to 4 pm during this week, as well as story time and colouring related to Baghdad at the Library.

Iraqi Week will also feature two curator-led tours in the Baghdad: Eye’s Delight exhibition on February 19 and 23, as well as two Iraqi films titled Marshes, and a film on ‘Latif Al Ani’ - popularly known as the father of Iraqi photography, will be showcased at the venue. 

The two curator-led tours, lectures, and panel discussions will require prior registration at whatsonatmia@qm.org.qa. 

The Iraqi Week’s full program list along with its respective dates and timings can be found at https://mia.org.qa/en/calendar/iraqi-week-at-mia/. 

The Baghdad: Eye’s Delight exhibition celebrates the capital of Iraq as one of the most important and influential cities in the Islamic world and is on view at MIA’s Temporary Exhibition Gallery until February 25.

Jointly curated by Dr. Julia Gonnella, Director, of the Museum of Islamic Art, and the museum’s curatorial team: Dr. Mounia Chekhab Abudaya, Dr. Tara Desjardins, Nicoletta Fazio, and Simone Struth, the display takes the visitor on an imaginary tour across centuries, highlighting Baghdad’s role as a city of power, scholarship, and riches.