Category: Representing Nature at the National Museum of Qatar

The structural design of the Qatar’s land mark museum is a sign of the desert like features in Qatar. The museum is set up close to Corniche in Doha which is in Qatar. Museum structure is made with a path that resembles the trade paths which were formerly used by the desert traders. These desert like routes with the museum are used by the tourist while inside. The decoration which represents a sand color is significant symbol for the dusty Qatar environment. None the less, the museum has also embraced the use of light and shades that has been widely used by the Qatar people (Mulla, 2016). The decoration in general shows the lives of the people of Qatar. For example, how the people lived and did their trade, how they kept their cattle and the general landscape.

Visits have a chance to watch videos about the Qatari people along the wall of the building when they are on tour. This gives the visitors a hint on what to look for when they want to learn more about Qatar. In the museum, there is a restored palace, this shows how much the people of Qatari have advanced in their architectural designs and their Engineering abilities. There are different items that were used and still being used by the Qatar people. One can get them at a glance as gift in the shops created inside the Museum. The desert rose resembles the desert in the Qatar environment (Bounia, 2018)

The overall view of the environment that entails the plants such as grass and other ancient plants. lagoons, dunes as well as crops is represented in the park that found outside the disk-shaped museum. Some significant trees such as date palm as well as big sacred sidra tree is also found in the park. New and old trees have been kept in the park. There are also desert resistant plants that have been captured in the park. In a nutshell, the park shows the natural environment of Qatar. It also shows where and how the citizens interacted with the environment, especially arid environment (Mitchell & Curtis, 2018). Artwork is also evident showing the desert animals like the camels. It is evident that people of Qatari preferred animals that could survive in the desert.

Children have also been furnished with playgrounds so that they can have a feeling of what the culture of the place was and where they have reached with their development so far, the structural designs and features of the museum represents the past and the current state of Qatar environment and social lives of the people. Inside the museum there is the café that gives a hint for the visitors what the Qatari Cosine looks like. They have an opportunity to have a taste of it too (Mitchell & Curtis, 2018). The museum has galleries that interprets the previous events and the presents happenings. The museum therefore is a too. The structure who’s main has been to showcase the environment of the place, political state such as the palace that used to harbor the royal family and in general the lives of the people of Qatar.

References

Bounia, A. (2018). The desert rose as new symbol for the nation;Materiality ,heritage and the artitecture of the new National Museum of Qatar. Heritage and society.

Mitchell, J. S., & Curtis, S. (2018). Old media,new narratives;Repurposing incovenient artifacts for the National Museum of Qatar . Journal of Arabian Studies.

Mulla, M. I. (2016). The development of the first Qatar National museum. Cultural Heritage in the Arabian peninsula .

The natural world is represented in several ways in the National Museum of Qatar. The displays in the museum offer several amazing ways in which nature has played a crucial role since the first people occupied the lands of Qatar. Furthermore, the displays are appealing and provide an aesthetic view of the interior of the museum. There is no denying the intricate connection between humans and the natural environment. Over the course of time since humans came into existence they have been engaged in various activities that have either affected the environment directly or indirectly. Many concepts that revolve around the environment have been established to try and understand what it really environment entails. Concepts such as Anthropocene, Eco-Marxism, Eco-feminism, environmental justice, and post-humanism bring the entire subject of the natural environment into perspective as will be discussed in the paper. 

One of the most amazing displays in the museum is Qatar’s Natural Environments. The main focus of the gallery is the natural environment of Qatar, which has been home to countless species of animals and plants that have evolved to perfectly adapt to the environment (NMOQ, 2022). The relationship between man and nature is inseparable. “Beautiful models of Qatar’s land and sea creatures are displayed for visitors to explore the interconnection between different species and environments and to understand the fragility of Qatar’s ecosystems” (NMOQ, 2022). The theme of the display resonates well with the principles of Eco-Marxism. 

The concept of Eco-Marxism is based on the idea that nature and humans are connected. Moreover, proponents of Eco-Marxism view globalization as the root cause of poverty, environmental degradation, war, and inequality (MRonline, 2018). The destruction of the environment has often elicited differing opinions between environmental activists and supporters of capitalism. One of the recent social movements to emerge and demand an end to the exploitation of the environment is Eco-feminism. Eco-feminists have often tried to show the connection between the suppression of women and the exploitation and degradation of the natural environment. Even though one can possibly never tell whether the assertions are true, what is important is that humans have a collective responsibility to take care of the environment. 

The view that human activities have destroyed the natural environment leads to the next concepts of Anthropocene and environmental justice. According to National Geographic (2022), Anthropocene is a historical period where human activities have severely affected the environment to cause a distinct geological change. Notably, the Anthropocene is a current geological epoch, which as can be observed, is characterized by animal extinctions, changes in the chemical composition of oceans, soils, and atmosphere, habitat loss, and global warming. It would be important to remember that the natural environment can be very harsh especially when damage has already been done to it. One fantastic display in the National Museum of Qatar narrates the whole story. The gallery Life in Barr (The Desert) tells the story of the challenges of a harsh environment (NMOQ, 2022). However, it would be vital to note that in a positive way, the harsh desert life compelled the early people of Qatar to forge strong bonds between community members and traditions. In times when the natural environment is threatened, environmental justice is essential. Through the movement, everyone irrespective of national origin, race, or color would be involved in promoting environmental rights.

Bibliography

MRonline. (2018, May 28). Eco-marxism and deforestation. MR Online. https://mronline.org/2018/05/28/eco-marxism-and-deforestation/ 

National Geographic. (2022). Anthropocene. National Geographic Society. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/anthropocene 

NMOQ. (2022). Galleries. NMOQ. https://nmoq.org.qa/en/visit/galleries/ 

A major theme that emerges from the reading ‘After Oil’ is the concept of renewable forms of energy. The Petrocultures Research Group explores alternative forms of energy that existed before oil and those that might emerge. There has been a transition from fossil fuels to renewables as society continues to globalize and battles the challenges of climate change. The renewable energy revolution is discernible in the National Museum of Qatar. NMoQ affirms that it is possible to switch to renewable energy sources to improve the quality of life. The issue of energy efficiency emerges and shows the dedication of NMoQ to inform the public about the history of oil and its significance in society. NMoQ has an energy playground in its museum gardens, which offers a unique experience for families to explore and discover issues related to energy, especially oil. Visitors can engage in intergenerational kinetic play activities, which offer lessons on the extraction and manufacture of oil. Importantly, it outlines the benefits and negativities that arise from oil. The boom of the oil industry had a significant effect on the modernization of Qatar. Even so, it has environmental consequences, hence the need for alternative energy sources. In this case, the energy playground is an educational and entertainment setting that helps respond to issues related to oil, which Petrocultures Research Group explore in their reading.

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Even so, it is important to understand that without oil, Qatar might not have been where it is economically or politically. Qatar realized its national vision through the production and exportation of oil. Learning about the history of Qatar’s oil exploration is necessary to understand the dynamics of oil discussed in ‘After Oil’. This is important to understand the relationship between energy corporations, governments, and technology companies. TOTAL, one of the leading energy companies, is the sponsor of the Energy Playground. Through the Energy Playground, it is possible to understand the technologies that oil companies use to minimize their impact on the environment. Apart from the energy playground, NMoQ has an energy-efficient design. NMoQ has a commitment to keep it green and promote efficient sources of energy. This is discernible right from its ‘desert rose’ design. The design insulates the façade of the building and helps in the conservation of water and energy used for cooling. The shade from the desert rose is necessary to protect the building from direct sunlight, which might result in the use of excessive power for cooling during the summer. In addition, numerous bicycle tracks allow visitors to navigate the expansive site. It also encourages the use of electrical vehicles and other eco-friendly vehicles. 

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Overall, energy efficiency is a significant consideration today. The Energy Playground at the NMoQ is a great location to educate families and visitors on the history of oil, its significance, and its prospects. Petrocultures Research Group explores the same concepts in the discussion ‘After Oil’. Through this, it is possible to understand the factors that triggered the transition from fossil fuel to oil and alternative energy sources. Knowledge of the political actors involved and their motivations to engage in the oil industry is useful in determining the future of energy. 

Bibliography

Genetic Engineering Technologies and Contracting. National Museum of Qatar – NMoQ 

Energy Playground – Design and Build. GET. 2019. 

National Museum of Qatar – NMoQ Energy Playground – Design and Build

Petrocultures Research Group. After Oil. Edmonton. 2016. 

Qatar Museums. Sustainable from the Start: NMoQ’s Award-Winning Design. 15 July 2021

https://qm.org.qa/en/stories/all-stories/sustainable-nmoq/

There are various elements of posthumanism in the National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ). In simple words, posthumanism relates to the concept of being post-human, which characterizes contemporary art and fields of science fiction. In the museum context, it highlights the technologies that promotes psychological capacities and enhances human intellectual capabilities. Essentially, it characterizes a posthuman future through advanced technologies such as Artificial Technology and robotic operations. In the NMoQ, posthumanism promotes social interconnectedness and allows people to see historical events and art and simultaneously project the future through digital transformations. 

The NMoQ has joined join forces with Microsoft to accelerate its digital transformation. This enables the museum to develop new visitor experiences through virtual reality and enhanced operations technology. Through AI, NMoQ has successfully enhanced digital learning experiences. This relates to the concept of posthumanism, which focuses on the future. 

The technology is also necessary to reinvent the heritage domain for Qataris. People who might be unfamiliar with Qatari history have interesting and engaging technologies to guide them about the national heritage. This brings education to life through innovative ways. According to MacRae (2017), the posthuman approach in museums has significantly transformed education. It promotes reconceptualization and boosts cognitive abilities, which is necessary in spurring creativity and research.Award-winning French architect Jean Nouvel designed the museum to be to be both immersive and experiential. The NMoQ has three themes; ‘Beginnings’, ‘Life in Qatar’ and ‘The Modern History of Qatar’. Each section provides a multisensory experience through lighting, multi-channel audio, and LED displays. Unlike traditional museums that only provided artwork, the posthumanism in NMoQ offers an immersive experience that encourages learning and offers multiple perspectives of issues. 

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Through a posthuman approach, it is possible to appreciate the intra-actions between human and nonhuman actors. The power of objects emerges as viewers can choose how to reconceptualize knowledge and historical narratives. In this case, they mediate learning and allow viewers to create meaning from what they see. Through this, viewers can derive meaning form what they watch through the digital technologies instead of merely relying on information from guides, for example. The display options are evidence of posthumanism. Modular LED tiles on irregular surface dimensions and the installations considered the human experience. The arrangement and pixelations augur with the themes and offer the right content and accompanying audio. 

Overall, the theoretical concept of posthumanism applies significantly to the National Museum of Qatar. The digital technologies enhance human capacities and stimulate cognitive abilities, which improves their experiences. In this case, the designer manipulated the experience that visitors normally have in the museum and offered them a more immersive experience. The interactions between humans and technology improves the human experience, which is the basis of the posthuman theory. This is useful in reframing the Anthropocene and offering multiple perspectives of art and other educational materials in the museum. 

Bibliography

MacRae, Christina, Abigail Hackett, Rachel Holmes & Liz Jones. Vibrancy, repetition and movement: posthuman theories for reconceptualising young children in museums. 

Microsoft.  National Museum of Qatar to join forces with Microsoft to accelerate 

Qatar Museums’ digital transformation. 2021. 

Milligan, Paul. Desert Rose: The National Museum of Qatar shines with immersive tech. 

2022. Inavate.