Contemporary Art from Qatar. The Abdulla Bin Ali Al Thani Collection

The Abdulla Bin Ali Al Thani Collection contains an exceptional array of artworks spanning the modern and contemporary art scene from Qatar, capturing the unique evolution and the stories it tells. Encyclopaedic in its approach, this extraordinary collection celebrates creativity and the universal power of art. In this book, Charbel Dagher traces the history of art in Qatar from ancient inscriptions, Islamic motifs and decoration, architecture, poetry, and traditional crafts, through the “pioneer” generation of modern visual artists, to the role of education, international exhibitions, and interaction with the region and Qatar’s own heritage. The book surveys a diverse collection which combines nostalgia and affection for the past with the confidence to draw on and sometimes combine both Qatari and international artistic styles, affirming the artists’ deep cultural roots and their openness to the world.