Latin American art dazzles in Qatar

“A constant reinvention of tradition”: Latin American art dazzles in Qatar
Curators María Amalia García and Issa Al Shirawi share their opinions and feelings about the Malba and Costantini Collection exhibition at the emirate's National Museum, open until July 19.
The LATIN AMERICAN exhibition at the National Museum of Qatar, an impressive selection of works from Malba and the Costantini Collection featuring works by Frida Kahlo, Antonio Berni, Diego Rivera, Gyula Kosice, Cecilia Vicuña, Fernando Botero, and Marta Minujín, among others, is in its first month of exhibition in Doha, the capital of the small emirate located on the Arabian Sea. So far, it has had a remarkable public response: more than 6,000 people have visited the spacious halls of the beautiful building designed by French architect Jean Nouvel. The exhibition runs until Saturday, July 19, when summer will have arrived in full force with high temperatures in the Qatari capital.

In an interview with Infobae Cultura, the exhibition's curators, María Amalia García (representing Malba) and Issa Al Shirawi (representing Qatar Museums), shared details of their collaborative work for this massive arrival of the best of Latin American art in the Middle East.
—What objectives did you set for the exhibition, and how did you experience the opening day, when the works were finally seen by the public?
María Amalia García: Our main objective was to present a narrative of Latin American art that would resonate with and challenge visitors to the NMoQ in Doha, in a very different context from Buenos Aires. Based on the museum's prior research, we worked along exploratory narrative lines. The core works were not in geographical or chronological order, but rather, dialogues were established through thematic and procedural aspects of the works. The exhibition explores themes that—without overlooking differences—seek to condense narrative aspects: territory, identities, social tensions, artistic languages. Working alongside Issa Al Shirawi, Sheika Al Jazi Al Thani, and the Qatar Museums team was a deeply enriching experience. From the beginning, a dialogue of listening and genuine collaboration was built. Opening day was very exciting: seeing the culmination of intense, collaborative work and a great deal of effort on the part of all the teams.

Issa Al Shirawi: Working with “Marita” was a great, collaborative, and enriching experience. We both shared the vision of creating an exhibition that would represent, for the first time in the WANA (West Asia and North Africa) region, the diverse and rich history of Latin American art. An exhibition that would offer new perspectives, moving away from the stereotypical representations and discussions often associated with Latin American art. The goal was to highlight the breadth and depth of artistic expression, showcasing the unique cultural context and global influences that shape Latin American art, especially for new audiences unfamiliar with these artists and their diverse practices.
Opening day was a very special experience, as we were finally able to see the public interact with the works we carefully selected. Many people were surprised to discover the number of artists they hadn't previously been familiar with. The positive feedback we received was an affirmation of the importance of bringing these voices and stories to a wider audience.
—If you had to tell someone who doesn't know much about Latin American art and the main artists in the show, how would you explain what the exhibition is about and who the most relevant ones are?

María Amalia García: —The exhibition offers a journey through the themes that run through the region's artistic production: the connection to the land, the city, social conflicts, the construction of identity, and the intersections between the ancestral and the contemporary. It is intended as an introduction to the plurality and versatility of Latin American art, from 1900 to the present.

There are many relevant works by great modern and contemporary Latin American artists, as is the uniqueness of the Malba and Eduardo Costantini collections. Among the most emblematic artists, I can mention Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Emilio Pettoruti, Remedios Varo, Leonora Carrington, Antonio Berni, Rafael Barradas, Wilfredo Lam, Fernando Botero, María Martins, and Xul Solar. And in the contemporary field, figures such as Oscar Bony, Lotty Rosenfel, Mónica Girón, Sheroanawe Hakihiiwe, and Cecilia Vicuña, among others.
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