Tribune News Network
Doha
Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the chairperson of Qatar Museums, inaugurated the Zwara: focus on the ‘Forever Valentino’ exhibition sponsored by Interspace at M7, Qatar’s epicentre for innovation and entrepreneurship in design, fashion and technology.
The exhibition showcases the collections of the 13 designers enrolled in the third edition of the Zwara Programme.
Commenting on the opening of the exhibition, HE Sheikha Al Mayassa said, "We are delighted to celebrate the opening of yet another exceptional exhibition at M7, showcasing the creative talents of our local and Qatar-based designers. Building upon the legacy of the Forever Valentino exhibition, this unique showcase embodies the enduring influence of Maison Valentino and its values. M7 is committed to nurturing and empowering the next generation of designers by promoting collaboration, cross-cultural and multidisciplinary exchange, and storytelling through design. We are proud to provide a platform for emerging creatives to develop their skills and showcase their vision.”
The Zwara Programme is a multifaceted programme that seeks to spark creativity and collaboration in aspiring creatives against the backdrop of Qatar’s creative landscape.
Held yearly, the programme highlights the importance of storytelling and experimentation in design, inviting creatives to explore exhibitions, archives, and collections and then respond to a design brief.
This year, 13 designers were selected across various design disciplines and were paired into six groups to encourage collaboration and dialogue between fashion and other design disciplines.
The 13 designers on this year’s Zwara programme are: Rabab Abdulla – multidisciplinary designer, fashion designer; Alaa Albarazy – urban designer, XR designer; Surabhi Gaikwad – artist; Sonali Raman – fashion designer; Maryam Al Suwaidi – product designer; Mohammed Al Suwaidi – architecture, fabrication, 3D design; Nia Alexander Campbell – artist; Maha Al Mahsana – fashion designer; Tamader Al Sultan – fashion designer; Amna Al Baker – multidisciplinary artist; Farjana Salahuddin – interactive and new media artist; Fatima Al Sharshani – calligrapher; and Dana Al Mulla – fashion designer.
This edition, Qatar-based designers and creatives in the Zwara Programme were tasked with exploring the natural conversations that occur between fashion and other design disciplines and explore these in their own work. Drawing inspiration from the Forever Valentino exhibition recently held at M7 and using the legacy and values of Maison Valentino as a starting point, collaborative teams developed designs that combined their diverse practices while reflecting their own heritage and values.
The selected participants were invited to attend a series of exclusive exhibition curated tours and workshops conducted by M7 and also had the opportunity to travel to participate in an optional three-day-long programme led by the Valentino team at their Atelier in Rome, Designers engaged with Valentino team to understand the context of the Valentino brand, and visited the Ateliers, Historical Archive and were given a brief about Valentino’s Journey.
This opportunity allowed participants to garner inspiration from the internationally acclaimed fashion house and explore the codes and heritage of the Maison in their designs.
"The Zwara Programme is tailor made with the aim to connect the global to the local by making our blockbuster exhibitions accessible to aspiring local and Qatar-based designers,” Maha Al Sulaiti, M7 director said.
M7 is committed to connecting Qatar’s diverse design community and providing opportunities to emerging creatives. The exhibition is sponsored by Qatari interior fit-out company, Interspace who worked collaboratively with Qatar-based exhibition designers.
"It is a pleasure to work alongside Qatar-based designers and support the growth of the creative industry in Qatar,” said John Allan, Interspace and Al Manjara manager.
Zwara: Focus on Forever Valentino is open from May 15, 2023 until September 10 at the Creative Learning Space, on Floor 1 at M7. The exhibition is now open Saturday to Thursday: 9am to 7pm, and Friday: 1:30pm to 7pm.