The Resurgence of a New Orientalism from the Middle East

Abstract

Qatar Museums possesses the most comprehensive collection of Orientalist art in the world. In the next few years, the collection will be displayed and opened to the public with a new vision. The question for Qatar Museums is how to present these works for a local and international audience in a manner that acknowledges interest in Edward Said’s concept of Orientalism, but challenges the confrontational idea of West vs. East and the ethnocentric prejudice that this implies. The approach has been to expand the collection and widen the museum’s scope in order to position the collection of Orientalist art in a broader context. This includes the acquisition of modern and contemporary fashion, art and popular culture to demonstrate the continued relevance and complexity of these cultural exchanges. It also includes prioritizing subjects of enduring relevance to Qatari identity and heritage in the interpretation of the paintings, by focusing displays on topics such as horsemanship and falconry, and incorporating contemporary objects associated with these practices.