{"id":616745,"date":"2026-09-07T00:36:08","date_gmt":"2026-09-07T00:36:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/616745\/"},"modified":"2026-09-07T00:36:08","modified_gmt":"2026-09-07T00:36:08","slug":"scripting-her-journey-in-qatars-cultural-heritage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/616745\/","title":{"rendered":"Scripting her journey in Qatar’s cultural heritage"},"content":{"rendered":"

Arabic\u00a0calligraphy\u00a0has\u00a0been\u00a0part\u00a0of\u00a0Bouthayna\u00a0al-Muftah\u2019s\u00a0visual\u00a0world\u00a0since\u00a0childhood.\u00a0For\u00a0the\u00a0Qatari\u00a0multidisciplinary\u00a0artist,\u00a0the\u00a0flowing\u00a0forms,\u00a0rhythms\u00a0and\u00a0intricate\u00a0details\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0script\u00a0have\u00a0evolved\u00a0from\u00a0a\u00a0familiar\u00a0childhood\u00a0presence\u00a0into\u00a0an\u00a0integral\u00a0part\u00a0of\u00a0her\u00a0artistic\u00a0language,\u00a0shaped\u00a0by\u00a0her\u00a0close\u00a0observation\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0culture\u00a0and\u00a0environment\u00a0around\u00a0her.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u00a0feel\u00a0like\u00a0I\u00a0had\u00a0an\u00a0interest\u00a0from\u00a0a\u00a0very\u00a0young\u00a0age;\u00a0the\u00a0majors\u00a0that\u00a0I\u00a0wanted\u00a0to\u00a0study\u00a0were\u00a0available\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0right\u00a0time,\u00a0and\u00a0me\u00a0being\u00a0here,\u00a0surrounded\u00a0by\u00a0my\u00a0environment,\u00a0was\u00a0really\u00a0amazing.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd\u00a0during\u00a0my\u00a0time\u00a0at\u00a0university,\u00a0I\u00a0really\u00a0started\u00a0to\u00a0look\u00a0at\u00a0everything\u00a0very\u00a0closely,\u00a0whereas\u00a0before,\u00a0you\u00a0know,\u00a0a\u00a0lot\u00a0of\u00a0things\u00a0were\u00a0being\u00a0overlooked,\u00a0and\u00a0that\u00a0was\u00a0when\u00a0I\u00a0really\u00a0fell\u00a0in\u00a0love\u00a0with\u00a0the\u00a0beauty\u00a0of\u00a0Arabic\u00a0typography,\u201d\u00a0says\u00a0al-Muftah\u00a0in\u00a0Qatar\u00a0Museum\u2019s\u00a0latest\u00a0Evolution\u00a0Nation\u00a0series.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Bouthayna<\/p>\n

Bouthayna al-Muftah’s ability to draw from familiar cultural references reached audiences around the world in 2022.<\/p>\n

Her\u00a0university\u00a0years\u00a0became\u00a0a\u00a0turning\u00a0point,\u00a0sharpening\u00a0her\u00a0attention\u00a0to\u00a0cultural\u00a0references,\u00a0gestures\u00a0and\u00a0details\u00a0that\u00a0had\u00a0previously\u00a0felt\u00a0familiar.\u00a0Working\u00a0across\u00a0photography,\u00a0printmaking,\u00a0typography,\u00a0performance\u00a0and\u00a0installation,\u00a0al-Muftah\u00a0has\u00a0since\u00a0developed\u00a0a\u00a0practice\u00a0rooted\u00a0in\u00a0memory,\u00a0language\u00a0and\u00a0the\u00a0changing\u00a0social\u00a0landscape\u00a0of\u00a0Qatar.\u00a0Arabic\u00a0script\u00a0appears\u00a0throughout\u00a0her\u00a0work,\u00a0at\u00a0times\u00a0immediately\u00a0recognisable\u00a0and\u00a0elsewhere\u00a0fragmented,\u00a0enlarged\u00a0or\u00a0reconfigured\u00a0until\u00a0the\u00a0written\u00a0form\u00a0becomes\u00a0an\u00a0image\u00a0in\u00a0itself.<\/p>\n

That\u00a0fascination\u00a0connects\u00a0her\u00a0practice\u00a0to\u00a0a\u00a0much\u00a0older\u00a0artistic\u00a0tradition.\u00a0Arabic\u00a0calligraphy\u00a0was\u00a0inscribed\u00a0in\u00a02021\u00a0on\u00a0Unesco\u2019\u00a0Representative\u00a0List\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0Intangible\u00a0Cultural\u00a0Heritage\u00a0of\u00a0Humanity,\u00a0recognising\u00a0a\u00a0practice\u00a0that\u00a0uses\u00a0Arabic\u00a0script\u00a0to\u00a0convey\u00a0harmony,\u00a0grace\u00a0and\u00a0beauty.\u00a0Its\u00a0legacy\u00a0remains\u00a0visible\u00a0across\u00a0Qatar\u00a0today.\u00a0At\u00a0the\u00a0Museum\u00a0of\u00a0Islamic\u00a0Art\u00a0(MIA),\u00a0Arabic\u00a0calligraphy\u00a0appears\u00a0across\u00a0manuscripts,\u00a0ceramics,\u00a0metalwork,\u00a0textiles\u00a0and\u00a0glass,\u00a0showing\u00a0how\u00a0the\u00a0written\u00a0word\u00a0has\u00a0long\u00a0served\u00a0artistic\u00a0as\u00a0well\u00a0as\u00a0functional\u00a0purposes.\u00a0The\u00a0tradition\u00a0also\u00a0continues\u00a0through\u00a0public\u00a0art\u00a0and\u00a0educational\u00a0workshops\u00a0that\u00a0introduce\u00a0audiences\u00a0to\u00a0its\u00a0evolving\u00a0forms.<\/p>\n

Al-Muftah\u2019s\u00a0own\u00a0interest\u00a0in\u00a0this\u00a0visual\u00a0heritage\u00a0extends\u00a0beyond\u00a0calligraphy\u00a0alone.\u00a0Memory,\u00a0family,\u00a0heritage\u00a0and\u00a0the\u00a0visual\u00a0culture\u00a0of\u00a0Qatar\u00a0and\u00a0the\u00a0region\u00a0continue\u00a0to\u00a0shape\u00a0her\u00a0practice,\u00a0with\u00a0historical\u00a0objects\u00a0sometimes\u00a0becoming\u00a0deeply\u00a0personal\u00a0references\u00a0that\u00a0connect\u00a0past\u00a0artistic\u00a0traditions\u00a0with\u00a0her\u00a0own\u00a0experiences\u00a0and\u00a0creative\u00a0work.<\/p>\n

One\u00a0such\u00a0object\u00a0is\u00a0a\u00a0Mamluk\u00a0perfume\u00a0sprinkler\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0national\u00a0collection,\u00a0currently\u00a0on\u00a0view\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0MIA.<\/p>\n

Perfume\u00a0sprinklers,\u00a0known\u00a0as\u00a0qamaqim,\u00a0the\u00a0plural\u00a0of\u00a0qumqum,\u00a0were\u00a0characteristic\u00a0of\u00a0Mamluk\u00a0glass\u00a0production.\u00a0The\u00a0example\u00a0connected\u00a0to\u00a0al-Muftah\u00a0is\u00a0a\u00a0free-blown\u00a0glass\u00a0sprinkler\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0globular\u00a0form,\u00a0a\u00a0long\u00a0narrow\u00a0neck,\u00a0and\u00a0enamelled\u00a0and\u00a0gilded\u00a0decoration.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0object\u00a0also\u00a0carries\u00a0a\u00a0personal\u00a0connection\u00a0for\u00a0al-Muftah.\u00a0\u201cThe\u00a0Mamluk\u00a0perfume\u00a0sprinkler\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0National\u00a0Collection\u00a0resonated\u00a0deeply\u00a0with\u00a0me,\u00a0and\u00a0the\u00a0object\u00a0holds\u00a0significant\u00a0personal\u00a0and\u00a0artistic\u00a0meaning\u00a0due\u00a0to\u00a0a\u00a0past\u00a0installation\u00a0I\u00a0created\u00a0titled\u00a0Hollow\u00a0Fragments\u00a0back\u00a0in\u00a02019.\u00a0I\u00a0chose\u00a0this\u00a0piece\u00a0because\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0connection\u00a0it\u00a0holds\u00a0within\u00a0my\u00a0family,\u00a0a\u00a0sentiment\u00a0I\u00a0think\u00a0is\u00a0shared\u00a0by\u00a0many\u00a0families\u00a0in\u00a0my\u00a0community\u00a0and\u00a0the\u00a0region.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her\u00a0ability\u00a0to\u00a0draw\u00a0from\u00a0familiar\u00a0cultural\u00a0references\u00a0reached\u00a0audiences\u00a0around\u00a0the\u00a0world\u00a0in\u00a02022,\u00a0when\u00a0she\u00a0designed\u00a0the\u00a0official\u00a0posters\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0FIFA\u00a0World\u00a0Cup\u00a0Qatar\u00a02022.\u00a0It\u00a0was\u00a0the\u00a0first\u00a0time\u00a0a\u00a0series\u00a0of\u00a0posters\u00a0had\u00a0been\u00a0created\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0tournament.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0main\u00a0poster\u00a0showed\u00a0traditional\u00a0headwear\u00a0being\u00a0thrown\u00a0into\u00a0the\u00a0air,\u00a0a\u00a0gesture\u00a0associated\u00a0with\u00a0celebration\u00a0and\u00a0football\u00a0fandom\u00a0across\u00a0Qatar\u00a0and\u00a0the\u00a0Arab\u00a0world.\u00a0Seven\u00a0supporting\u00a0posters\u00a0focused\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0region\u2019s\u00a0passion\u00a0for\u00a0football\u00a0and\u00a0the\u00a0place\u00a0the\u00a0game\u00a0holds\u00a0within\u00a0family\u00a0and\u00a0community\u00a0life.\u00a0The\u00a0commission\u00a0placed\u00a0a\u00a0Qatari\u00a0visual\u00a0language\u00a0before\u00a0a\u00a0global\u00a0audience\u00a0while\u00a0retaining\u00a0references\u00a0rooted\u00a0in\u00a0local\u00a0culture\u00a0and\u00a0everyday\u00a0experience.<\/p>\n

Moreover,\u00a0al-Muftah\u00a0said\u00a0that\u00a0creativity\u00a0remains\u00a0closely\u00a0tied\u00a0to\u00a0curiosity\u00a0and\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0experience\u00a0of\u00a0making\u00a0itself.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0think\u00a0there\u00a0is\u00a0a\u00a0future\u00a0with\u00a0creativity,\u00a0you\u00a0should\u00a0definitely\u00a0enjoy\u00a0the\u00a0journey\u00a0and\u00a0enjoy\u00a0the\u00a0process.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Arabic\u00a0calligraphy\u00a0has\u00a0been\u00a0part\u00a0of\u00a0Bouthayna\u00a0al-Muftah\u2019s\u00a0visual\u00a0world\u00a0since\u00a0childhood.\u00a0For\u00a0the\u00a0Qatari\u00a0multidisciplinary\u00a0artist,\u00a0the\u00a0flowing\u00a0forms,\u00a0rhythms\u00a0and\u00a0intricate\u00a0details\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0script\u00a0have\u00a0evolved\u00a0from\u00a0a\u00a0familiar\u00a0childhood\u00a0presence\u00a0into\u00a0an\u00a0integral\u00a0part\u00a0of\u00a0her\u00a0artistic\u00a0language,\u00a0shaped\u00a0by\u00a0her\u00a0close\u00a0observation\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0culture\u00a0and\u00a0environment\u00a0around\u00a0her. \u201cI\u00a0feel\u00a0like\u00a0I\u00a0had\u00a0an\u00a0interest\u00a0from\u00a0a\u00a0very\u00a0young\u00a0age;\u00a0the\u00a0majors\u00a0that\u00a0I\u00a0wanted\u00a0to\u00a0study\u00a0were\u00a0available\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0right\u00a0time,\u00a0and\u00a0me\u00a0being\u00a0here,\u00a0surrounded\u00a0by\u00a0my\u00a0environment,\u00a0was\u00a0really\u00a0amazing. \u201cAnd\u00a0during\u00a0my\u00a0time\u00a0at\u00a0university,\u00a0I\u00a0really\u00a0started\u00a0to\u00a0look\u00a0at\u00a0everything\u00a0very\u00a0closely,\u00a0whereas\u00a0before,\u00a0you\u00a0know,\u00a0a\u00a0lot\u00a0of\u00a0things\u00a0were\u00a0being\u00a0overlooked,\u00a0and\u00a0that\u00a0was\u00a0when\u00a0I\u00a0really\u00a0fell\u00a0in\u00a0love\u00a0with\u00a0the\u00a0beauty\u00a0of\u00a0Arabic\u00a0typography,\u201d\u00a0says\u00a0al-Muftah\u00a0in\u00a0Qatar\u00a0Museum\u2019s\u00a0latest\u00a0Evolution\u00a0Nation\u00a0series. \u00a0 Bouthayna al-Muftah’s ability to draw from familiar cultural references reached audiences around the world…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":616746,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[307,304,305,306,308,93,55888,61,5493,60,36211,4444,261732],"class_list":["post-616745","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-arts-and-design","tag-arts","tag-arts-and-design","tag-artsanddesign","tag-artsdesign","tag-design","tag-entertainment","tag-her","tag-ie","tag-in","tag-ireland","tag-journey","tag-qatar","tag-scripting"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/616745","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=616745"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/616745\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/616746"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=616745"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=616745"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=616745"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}