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Ailyn Agonia
Doha
STREET and store signs and other items reminiscent of the bustling neighbourhood of Msheireb district from 1980s onward are showcased in the temporary exhibition which opened at the Mohammed Bin Jassim House in Msheireb Museums in Doha on Tuesday.
The collection entitled 'Back to Msheireb: Shared Streets- Shared Stories' was curated by students of University College London (UCL) Qatar in collaboration with Msheireb Museums. It is part of the annual UCL Qurates, an initiative of the university's Masters in Museum and Gallery Practice programme, and the final outcome of one of the core modules of the Master's degree, the Exhibition Project. The collection will be on display until July 27.
"This student-led project is a crucial, assessed component of the Master's programme, which seeks to bridge the gap between museum theory and practice. The project affords our students who are undergoing rigorous graduate training to further professionalise or to enter the museum profession, in Qatar or abroad the unique opportunity to implement knowledge acquired on the programme, working collaboratively with a museum," said Dr Sam Evans, director of UCL Qatar.
Other items on display are creative signage of stores offering services and products that mainly drew people to Msheireb such as a tailor and electronic gadget and repair shops. Also showcased are photographs of prominent restaurants offering diverse cuisines which made Msheireb famous. A section of the exhibit features a wooden bread paddle used in some of the bakeries then.
"This exhibition documents an important part of Doha's cultural scene and embodies a vibrant image of our rich heritage and history. The collection traces the history of Msheireb area and draws a small portrait of the urban progress in Doha, bringing to light the diverse range of people and businesses that lived and worked side by side," said Hafiz Ali, director of Msheireb Museums.
The team behind the collection includes Jorell Legaspi and Omer Mohammad for the Project Management with Dr Serena Iervolino and Dr Catharina Hendrick as Module Coordinators.
"I am delighted to have worked in partnership with Msheireb Museums on this year's UCL Qurates initiative. Together with the other Museum Studies faculty, Dr Catharina Hendrick, I have had the pleasure of seeing a particularly skillful group of students blossoming throughout the project. Working in a mature and collaborative manner, the students have developed and delivered an exhibition of professional standards," said Dr Serena Iervolino.
