jean francois bodin: muthaf arab museum of modern art

muthaf arab museum of modern art in doha, qatar by jean-francois bodin all images courtesy muthaf arab museum of modern art

the mathaf arab museum of modern art in doha, qatar opens today. the building is an existing venue that has been redesigned by jean-francois bodin. mathaf (which means ‘museum’ in arabic) will present exhibitions and programs that explore modern arab art. its collection of more than 6,000 works represents major trends and sites of production of arab art, spanning from the 1840s to the present.

entrance

the exhibitions and programmes are housed in a 5,500-square-meter (59,000-square-foot) facility that includes galleries on two floors, café, museum shop, a research library and an education wing. visitors can enter mathaf through a terrace that features a shaded outdoor seating area which is part of the café. from the terrace, visitors will be able to pass through a screen-wrapped scaffolding-style façade, upon which imagery and videos can be projected at night. inside the flexible space an informal and contemporary aesthetic is found. like the collection that it houses, this temporary home expresses a balance between the old and the new, as well as reflecting mathaf’s commitment to education.

the foyer

the cafe area and library