Mal Lawal 1: Uniquely local

From everyday artefacts and quirky trinkets to contemporary treasures and Qatari art, community-led contributions shaped a unique exhibition — the first of its kind in the region.

The project represented the shared heritage and passions of local people, both esteemed collectors and amateur enthusiasts. It offered younger people a window to the past and allowed the nation's collective character to shine.

Spotlight on Local Talent

The exhibition contained a section, curated by Qatar Museums (QM), featuring original works by contemporary Qatari artists including Yousef Ahmed, Wafika Sultan Saif Al-Essa and Wadha Al Suleati, amongst others. Full of fresh thinking, it offered an insight into the country's creative output and demonstrated the individual potential of its participants.

Reaching Out

Alongside the exhibition, QM ran an extensive outreach and education programme to encourage audiences to connect with the content. It featured a series of lectures by collectors, artists and critics, workshops and specially designed activity books for younger visitors.

Telling Stories

Mal Lawal also provided an area where visitors could record and share their own stories, contributing to the documentation of Qatar's heritage and identity beyond donating objects. This initiative, called Wathiq, was linked to an online forum where all recordings were collated for a broader, digital audience.