Museum of Islamic Art will present Crafting Design Futures - an exhibition showcasing the artistic visions of nine makers from Qatar and Morocco

Crafting Design Futures, an exhibition highlighting the artistic ideas of nine makers from Qatar and Morocco—two civilisations rich in handcrafting traditions—will take place this autumn at the Museum of Islamic Art. 

Gwen Farrelly is the curator of Crafting Design Futures, an exhibition that will showcase brand-new designs produced at the Design Doha Residency Program 2024 Qatar | Morocco: Crafting Design Futures by designers from both countries.

Under the direction of Design Doha, a biannual celebration of creative innovation from the MENA area, the residency is a long-term exchange of knowledge, craft, and design techniques. Crafting Design Futures is on display from November 30, 2024, until January 7, 2025, as a part of the Qatar-Morocco 2024 Year of Culture.

Nada Elkharashi, Reema Abu Hassan, Majdulin Nassrallah, and Abdulrahman Al Muftah, designers based in Qatar, interpreted the traditional Moroccan craft-making skills acquired during the exchange program to create modern functional products and artistic displays, as well as multifunctional installations that draw attention to urgent cultural narratives. Amine Asselman, Sara Ouhaddou, Bouchra Boudoua, Amine El Gotaibi, and Hamza Kadiri concentrated on earthworks, pottery, earthworks, ceramics, and glass installations in Morocco.

The MIA courtyard will host a public art project by Amine Al Gotibi, while the Museum of Islamic Art's Gallery 4 will showcase artwork produced during the exchange. Additionally, only at MIA's store will custom goods items made by designers in Qatar that drew inspiration from their exchange in Morocco be offered for sale.