The Media Majlis Museum (mm:museum) at Northwestern University in Qatar has inaugurated its eighth mixed-media exhibition, “The limits of my language are the limits of my world,” exploring the Arabic language, its imprints from the past, its multifaceted present and precarious future. Curated by cultural producer and Northwestern Qatar alumna Amal Zeyad Ali, it will run until December 5, 2024.
In line with the museum’s mission, the new exhibition combines art, media, and technology to examine the present representations, historical impacts, and future of the Arabic language. Throughout history, Arabic has shaped tastes, perceptions, and narratives worldwide across culture, politics, social relations, trade, and science. Nowadays, however, Arabic faces challenges of misrepresentation, especially in a digital and globalized world where English increasingly prevails. This exhibition invites visitors to explore the rich history and influence of the Arabic language and to reflect on its place in the future.
“The inauguration of the new exhibition on Arabic language is a powerful testament to our commitment to excellence, collaboration, and intellectual exploration,” said Marwan M. Kraidy, dean and CEO of Northwestern Qatar. “By delving into the complexities and evolving influence of Arabic, this exhibition not only celebrates the richness of our cultural heritage but also sparks meaningful dialogue on its future. It aligns seamlessly with our academic mission, providing a platform for critical discussions that resonate deeply within our community and beyond.”
The exhibition revolves around four key themes that offer an immersive journey and thoughtful reflection. The first theme, “Always another side?,” introduces the Arabic language and its complexities, challenging the often negative stereotypes associated with it by highlighting its beauty, diversity, and cultural richness. It allows for a re-framing of the language and showcases that there is always another side.
The second theme, “An influential and powerful language?,” explores Arabic's influence as a powerful language that has shaped politics, religion, science, and culture worldwide, illustrating its impact through linguistic borrowing and cultural exchange. It demonstrates that this process is not always seamless.
The third theme, “Does media representation matter?,” examines the portrayal of Arabic in contemporary media, questioning how the language is represented and its prominence in a rapidly globalizing, tech-driven world. It asses the availability of and access to Arabic content and media, as well as its quality and quantity.
The final theme, “Is Arabic a language of the future?,” discusses the future of Arabic, questioning whether current efforts to preserve, protect, and conserve the language are effective and how they can be improved or rethought.
“The inauguration of the new exhibition on Arabic language is a powerful testament to our commitment to excellence, collaboration, and intellectual exploration. By delving into the complexities and evolving influence of Arabic, this exhibition not only celebrates the richness of our cultural heritage but also sparks meaningful dialogue on its future. It aligns seamlessly with our academic mission, providing a platform for critical discussions that resonate deeply within our community and beyond.”
"We are thrilled to present this exhibition, which provides visitors with a transformative, interactive experience and serves as a platform for discussions on cultural changes, societal transformation, and the evolution and preservation of the Arabic language,” said Alfredo Cramerotti, director of mm:museum. He added, “Our goal is to ignite discussions on its preservation and future, engage a broad, younger audience, and encourage reflection on our society."
Curator Amal Zeyad Ali said the exhibition is designed to stimulate community discussions about the language. “Arabic is a beautiful, diverse, and complex language but battles with misrepresentation, fragmentation, and limitations. From physical objects to commissioned artworks and digital content, it contains and amplifies multifaceted voices. I hope this is a start to breaking beyond the limits the language is currently experiencing.”
The exhibition features a range of commissioned artworks and interactive content that explore the richness and evolution of the Arabic language and culture. Notable works include
- “Breaths of a Dialog” by Qatar-based Jordanian artist Hala Amer, which traces the linguistic journey of the Arabic word for "orange” to demonstrate exchanges between East and West
- “Letter by Letter” by Bahraini artist Latifa Al Ali, which offers an innovative tool for learning and interacting with the Arabic script
- “Clear Truth” by Jordan-based Syrian artist Hussein Alazaat, which abstracts traditional Arabic calligraphy to question transparency in the digital age
- “Lines” by Bahraini artist Zainab Alsabba, which reflects personal suffering and self-expression in the Arabic language through text-based installation
- “Skateboard series” by Saudi artist Yusef Alahmad, which blends counterculture with Islamic design.
- “No Limits,” “Right to Left,” “Round Puff,” “Learn,” “Build,” and “Lentils” by Saudi-based British artist Simon Mortimer, which use metaphors like a falcon and Arabic proverbs to explore language, multiculturalism, and education from the perspective of a non-speaker
- “The Language of Time” by Tunisian artist Karim Jabbari, which celebrates ancient Arabic poetry and calligraphy through a poetic installation
- “Textile designs” by Brooklyn-based artist Morcos Key, which reimagines familiar Arabic phrases to make the language more accessible and comforting and invoke curiosity
The exhibition also features a Takween Mural, a life-size modular magnetic block developed in collaboration with Akwan and designer Lujain Abulfaraj. This set allows visitors of all ages to form Arabic letters and words through play, fostering a deeper connection with the language.
In addition to art pieces, the exhibition also features spoken word performances by Egyptian-Australian poet Salwa Sadek and Palestinian poet Dana Dajani, who explore themes of identity in dialogue with voices of prominent content creators such as Salam Katanani and Qasem Elhato from Jordan, exploring why they create content in Arabic and draw audiences.
A selection of digital content, including music videos, comedy skits from American comedians Maz Jobrani and Mo Amer, animations from the Qatar Foundation, documentaries, and talks from TED and TEDx, are also featured. These were provided by partners Al Jazeera, BBC Arabic, and Al Araby TV, adding a multimedia dimension to the exploration of Arabic language and culture.
A filmed debate titled “Where do you stand?,” moderated by Qatari stand-up comedian and presenter Hamad Al-Amari, features discussions on the role of the Arabic language in modern society, with participants from diverse backgrounds.
Accompanying the exhibition is a special edition of the museum’s publication, Voices and Conversations, titled The beauty, complexity and diversity of Arabic proverbs and sayings, featuring a foreword by Dean Kraidy and an epilogue by curator Amal Zeyad Ali. The publication is an edited volume, edited by Amal Zeyad Ali and Jack Thomas Taylor, who serves as curator of art, media and technology at the museum.
The museum will also organize a public program in collaboration with afikra (عفكرة), which is a global community dedicated to cultivating curiosity around the histories and cultures of the Arab World, focusing on the use of Arabic in storytelling in aspects such as artificial intelligence, visual arts, film, publishing and social media. It will take place on October 26, 2024, and feature panel discussions, performances, and activations by local and regional voices. Leading up to the program, afikra will run a podcast series in partnership with the museum on their platform.
As the first museum in Arab world dedicated to media and communication, mm:museum celebrates innovation, promotes open dialogue and fosters intellectual research for the next generation. The Museum offers visitors transformative, interactive experiences that shatter traditional boundaries.
The exhibition opens on August 27 until December 5, 2024, from Sunday to Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. To learn more and the museum’s other programs, click here.
