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Mathaf Collections

sajjil: a century of modern art

Modern Art

sajjil: a century of modern art

December 30, 2010 - October 1, 2011

Curated by Dr. Nada Shabout, Wassan al-Khudhairi and Deena Chalabi

Our inaugural exhibition was a remarkable, comprehensive cross-section of art from the Arab world produced over the last hundred years.

Sajjil means ‘Act of Recording’ and it brought together over 200 artworks from Mathaf’s extensive collection. The Sajjil exhibition highlighted turning-points in artistic thought as it evolved in the region.

The exhibition created a space for many different stories and experiences and helped set Arab modern art in its historical place within a larger art-history tradition. It also emphasized the several common moments and concerns that made it possible to talk about a shared identity in the region.

Sajjil was divided into ten themed categories: nature; the city; individualism; form and abstraction; society; family; history and myth; struggle; huroufiyah (’abstract letterform art’) and Doha.

mathaf voices

We are Mathaf

For the duration of the Sajjil exhibition, visitors toured Sajjil through the eyes of one of the Mathaf Voices, a university student trained to lead tours of exhibitions at the museum.

behind the scenes

mathaf offers mathaf offers mathaf offers mathaf offers

at mathaf we are aware that for our artists
there are many histories to
reclaim and rewrite.
Deena Chalabi
Co-Curator of Sajjil & Head of Strategy
Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art

sajjil catalogue

  • The Sajjil catalogue is Mathaf’s first publication featuring works by over one hundred artists from the Arab world during more than a century of world changing developments in art, culture, society, and politics.

    The artworks were selected to represent pivotal moments in aesthetic experimentation, responses to historical events, and artistic development.

    The Sajjil catalogue can be purchased on Amazon or at Mahal, Mathaf’s gift shop.

  • © Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art

    P.O.Box 2777, Education City, Doha, Qatar

    00 974 4402 8855 mathaf_info@qma.org.qa

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