The National Museum of Qatar is home to a major Years of Culture exhibition exploring the history of coffee from Indonesia to Qatar. Growing Kopi, Drinking Qahwa; Stories of Coffee in Qatar and Indonesia, open now through 17 February 2024, was organized in partnership with the National Museum of Indonesia to mark Qatar-Indonesia 2023 Year of Culture.
National Museum of Qatar Director HE Sheikh Abdulaziz Al Thani said, “The Qatar-Indonesia 2023 Year of Culture is a testament to the power of shared narratives in fostering understanding and collaboration, something we see come through quite clearly through the 'Growing Kopi, Drinking Qahwa' exhibition. That extends to our shared traditions of hospitality, dialogue and creativity fueled by the practice of brewing, serving and sharing coffee. The National Museum of Qatar is proud to host this milestone exhibition for the Qatar-Indonesia 2023 Year of Culture, which was created in partnership with the National Museum of Indonesia, the Embassy of Indonesia in Qatar, students who participated through the Ajial Altarbwy Center, and Qatar Museums internship program participants."
Indonesia’s Ambassador to Qatar, HE Ridwan Hassan, said, “I am thrilled to witness the incredible cultural experience built by the talented teams at the National Museum of Qatar and the National Museum of Indonesia. There is a lot that binds Qatar and Indonesia together, made all the more stronger through the deeper exploration into each other’s cultures enabled during the Qatar-Indonesia Year of Culture.”
The exhibition was created by the joint curatorial teams from the National Museum of Qatar and the National Museum of Indonesia, including Exhibit and Multimedia Interpretive Specialist Dr. Marie-Pierre Lissoir, Social and Oral History Researcher Najma Ahmed, Deputy Director of Curatorial Tania Abdulmonem Al Majid, Associate Curator of Social History Sara Saqr Al Mohannadi, Associate Curator of Oral History Sara Al-Maadheed, Head Curator of Oral History Amal Al-Hideous, Oral History Researcher Sheikha Rawdha Al Thani and National Museum of Indonesia members Handoko Hendroyono, Daroe Handojo, Prawoto Indarto, Sekar Arum Romadhani, Nusi Lisabilla Estudiantin. The exhibition brings to life the history of coffee growing, trading, and drinking around the world, with a particular focus on the traditional and contemporary coffee cultures of Qatar and Indonesia, using interactive displays, immersive projections, sights, smells, soundscapes, a specially commissioned contemporary artwork, and more.
Growing Kopi, Drinking Qahwa; Stories of Coffee in Qatar and Indonesia was made possible with assistance from Lead Sponsor Expo 2023 Doha with additional support from Partner & Partners.
“Through this partnership with Years of Culture, Expo 2023 Doha aims to solidify Qatar’s position as a global tourist destination,” said Mr. Mohammed Al-Khouri, Secretary General of Expo 2023 Doha. "This exhibition is a testament to the power of cooperation in curating narratives that resonate across cultures and generation,” he added, before concluding, “Through this partnership with Years of Culture, we aim to break new ground in celebrating the shared human experience with a green lens, in addition to promoting artistic and cultural sustainability.”
Growing Kopi, Drinking Qahwa is organized in five thematic sections, ranging from growing to drinking coffee as part of shared traditions. The exhibition also explores topics ranging from sustainable farming to social and cultural development.
What is Coffee?
The exhibition’s first section, What is Coffee?, introduces the visitors to the coffee plant and its prized beans. It also explains the origins of the term kopi (coffee in Bahasa Indonesia) from the Arabic word for coffee, qahwa.
Growing and Trading Coffee
Next, Growing and Trading Coffee focuses on the history of coffee in the Arab World and Indonesia. It explains how coffee went from the forests of Ethiopia to Indonesia’s Java Island. This part of the exhibition also features a powerful contemporary art installation Bloom in Agony (2022), from the Indonesian artists' collective Gegerboyo, which explores connections between Indonesia’s colonial heritage and modern coffee practices.
Roasting and Brewing
Roasting and Brewing engages audiences through sensory experiences using coffee beans and spices highlighting different roasting and brewing traditions. Via videos, visitors can learn about qahwa brewing from an elder Qatari coffee expert and enjoy a coffee-making competition showing the recipes of different Qatari families.
Serving and Drinking
Among the final section of Growing Kopi, Drinking Qahwa is Serving and Drinking, which focuses on the rituals associated with coffee drinking in Qatar and Indonesia. Highlights in this section include a 360-degree projection that transports the visitor to Filosofi Kopi, an iconic coffee shop in the heart of Jakarta, while another circular space evokes a Qatari majlis. Inside, two screens display a short film created in collaboration with Qatari youth showing the complexity of the coffee serving and drinking etiquette in Qatar, often with humorous outcomes.
Coffee and Creativity
Finally, Coffee and Creativity explores the many ways in which coffee helps foster the creative individuals and industries in Qatar and Indonesia. The section highlights Indonesian cultural practices such as batik textiles and traditional mask dances, and celebrates Qatari artists and entrepreneurs.
Accompanying Growing Kopi, Drinking Qahwa; Stories of Coffee in Qatar and Indonesia, will be a series of public programs engaging local coffee shops, artists, and baristas from Indonesia, as well as activities including barista experiences and competitions, special tours, and partnerships with local shops.
● Coffee in Qatar and Indonesia
25 October 2023 | 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Join us for a caffeinated cultural exploration! Dive into our lecture on Qatar and Indonesia's coffee culture, as we unravel the unique traditions and captivating stories from these diverse nations. Do not miss this flavourful journey!
● Brewing & Storytelling Competition
28 October | 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Calling all talented baristas in Qatar! Showcase your coffee artistry in our brewing competition. Win recognition, prizes, and the hearts of coffee lovers. Join the ultimate coffee showdown today!
● A Story of Arabic Coffee
30 & 31 October 2023 |1:00 PM – 2:30 PM (English) 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM (Arabic)
Participants will learn about the history of Arabic coffee as well as the traditions, necessary equipment and rituals related to preparing and serving the Gahwa in Qatar. They will have the opportunity to taste it as part of the tour. Contact toursnmoq@qm.org.qa to secure a place.
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About Years of Culture
Culture is one of the most effective tools to bring people closer together, encourage dialogue, and deepen understanding between nations.
Though formal programming lasts only one year, the ties of friendship that are strengthened and formed are long-lasting.
Qatar-Indonesia 2023 Year of Culture has been developed in collaboration with leading organizations in Qatar, including Doha Film Institute, Education Above All, Katara Cultural Village, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Qatar Charity, Qatar Cycling Federation, Qatar Foundation, Qatar Museums, Qatar National Library, Qatar Tourism, with assistance from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Qatar and the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Indonesia.
Previous Years of Culture have included: Qatar-Japan 2012, Qatar-UK 2013, Qatar-Brazil 2014, Qatar-Türkiye 2015, Qatar-China 2016, Qatar-Germany 2017, Qatar-Russia 2018, Qatar-India 2019, Qatar-France 2020, Qatar-USA 2021, and Qatar-MENASA 2022.
Past sponsors include Qatar Airways, Vodafone, Qatar Gas, Shell, Ooredoo, Shangri-La Hotel and Resorts, Lulu Group International, Qatar Financial Centre, Qatar Petroleum, and ExxonMobil.
About Qatar Museums
Qatar Museums (QM), the nation’s preeminent institution for art and culture, provides authentic and inspiring cultural experiences through a growing network of museums, heritage sites, festivals, public art installations, and programmes. QM preserves and expands the nation’s cultural offerings, sharing art and culture from Qatar, the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia (MENASA) region with the world and enriching the lives of citizens, residents, and visitors.
Under the patronage of His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and led by its Chairperson, Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, QM has made Qatar a vibrant centre for the arts, culture, and education in the Middle East and beyond. QM is integral to the goal of developing an innovative, diverse, and progressive nation, bringing people together to ignite new thinking, spark critical cultural conversations, and amplify the voices of Qatar’s people. Since its founding in 2005, QM has overseen the development of museums and festivals including the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) and MIA Park, Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, the National Museum of Qatar (NMOQ), 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, QM Gallery Al Riwaq, QM Gallery Katara, and the Tasweer Qatar Photo Festival. Future projects include Dadu: Children’s Museum of Qatar, Art Mill Museum, Qatar Auto Museum and the Lusail Museum. Qatar also has one of the largest and most ambitious public art programmes in the world. Through its Department of Archaeology, QM spearheads several initiatives to preserve and restore Qatar’s historical sites and buildings. QM also initiates and supports Creative Hubs that nurture artistic talent and create opportunities to build a strong and sustainable cultural infrastructure. These include the Fire Station: Artist in Residence, M7 for innovation, fashion and design, and Liwan Design Studios and Labs. For more information visit https://qm.org.qa
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Press Contacts
MENASA Region & Qatar
Salma Sadek, ssadek@qm.org.qa