Exploring Doha: Cai Guo-Qiang: SARAAB

We tried to change our first impression on the  Mathaf - Arab Museum of Modern Art by getting to know the art behind it. 


And boy, did we changed our mind full turn! It's a MUST SEE EXHIBITION! Once we spent time understanding the art and its medium, we were fascinated. 

SARAAB displays newly commissioned artworks by Chinese-born contemporary artist Cai Guo-Qiang. The word SARAAB, literally means "mirage" evokes fantastical travelers' vision.

When we watched the series of videos of his works, we can't help but admire his art medium and his message. The artist explores ideas about historic, present day and imaginary travels between Doha and his hometown of Quanztou, China. 

Just imagine art using gun powder, explosion, gold and ceramics to name a few. 

Many of the art works were created here in Doha with assistance of local volunteers. Now wondering where were we? 

The exhibit will be on until 26th May 2012 with a fee of QR 25 but free for all students. It's pretty reasonable to enjoy all the artworks plus a movie and lots of videos. 

The Turknoy kids  enjoyed the videos especially the horses and  creative explosions. 

Oh and by the way, the rocks exhibition are titled "HOMECOMING", every rock has a story.   Guanzhou once had a multitude of cemeteries for Arabs and these rocks symbolizes the tombstones of those Arabs, the exhibition is  at tribute to Muslims and their tombstones.  And they are finally back home. Touching, isn't it. 

One of our favorite among all the galleries in the exhibition is the flying camel and the falcons. Both kids enjoyed the fun part of predicting what comes next after the scene in the gallery. 

Kylie predicted that the falcons will go home to their nests and eat the camel. Kerim simply counted and drew the birds. Left hand side of the brain hard at work. LOL. 

we love the flying camel and falcons!

camel and falcons are basically the symbol of the desert!

our Kerim drawing the camel and counting the falcons! fun!

silly Kylie noting that the falcons are not helping the camels fly; instead the camel will be eaten! hahaha

these are made of wax - great work of art.

We also LOVE LOVE another gallery about the ninety nine horses - especially when we saw how the art work was done for the exhibition in Doha with the participation of a lot of volunteers. Such hard work for creativity. A must see also. This particular gallery is actually the kids favorite. 


For more information, visit the museum's website here: MATHAF. We really highly recommend to spend 2-3 hours in the museum. It's all worth it. It never hurts to enjoy the modern art. Open our minds and heart to new and awesome idea; think outside the box, for the sake of our kids, the future generation. 





Keep exploring!
 

Maktaba and Mathaf Reading Circles

Another great way to encourage kids how to read is to make them appreciate arts. We went to Mathaf - Arab Museum of Modern Art to join the Maktaba and Mathaf Reading Circle.


Maktaba will be the first Arabic/ English children's library in Doha, Qatar. To say that our Turknoy family is excited about the opening of the library is an understatement. Now, when will they open, we are wondering and waiting! 


For the mean time, we are attending the reading circle to be held in Mathaf Museum every week. 


It was actually the first time for  Kerim to attend a book reading session with another facilitator other than his mommy! We usually have our book reading in the park and at home but it's always me who's reading to the group. He was asking a lot of questions to the facilitator and kept disturbing her from reading the story. He was asking question - "What is that?!" and pointing to the animals and telling the children what those were. Awesome for a my 2.5 year old book lover!


Kylie, on the other hand, created an awesome book cover and participated a lot during the book reading. It was a great experience to be part of the reading circle.

preparing his book cover! 

now on to the text of the book cover!

our little girl presenting her awesome book cover about the birds!

Our little boy asking a lot - A LOT - of questions during book reading

How I wish we could participate in more of these sessions. These sessions aim to encourage families to think about links between stories and arts. Hence,  the art about kids' book cover. It's an awesome idea indeed. Art and book reading. 

Keep exploring!
 

Exploring Doha: Mathaf - Arab Museum of Modern Art

We've been hearing about the Mathaf - Arab Museum of Modern Art for quite some time now from friends and colleagues, not to mention from huge, gigantic, enormous (sorry, practicing the adjective for big!) billboards all across Doha.  So finally, we went there and check our the museum which opened last December.

The kids had fun climbing on the artistic rocks by the entrance of the museum. Although, I don't think this is allowed. The Turk enjoyed the refreshing art collections also by the entrance of the museum.

And it's obvious that we I don't know a hoot about art, so here goes the photo blog. Who knows, maybe someday, the kids will want to explain the art behind these photo series. Somebody help them please as it is really pretty obvious that they can't extract any art sense from their parents.

by the entrance of Mathaf Museum

posing by the rock!

so who's cuter? me or the rock? ;) 

this man bumped into the wall and got cemented! cool!

and the turknoys investigate the scene!

love this!

and this!

love the design of the cafeteria also! artistic.. ;) 

discussing about art? 

rock? LOL - that's all i can say, really. 

having his own version of art interpretation!

Come visit the museum and have fun looking at some art and please do share your interpretation because we know that ours kinda suck - a lot.

And we're with you, this blog couldn't possibly get worse.




Keep exploring!