| Issue 2
Profile : Sheikha Al Mayassa Al Thani
Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani has played a pioneering role in the fields of culture , education , and outreach , spearheading and supporting a number of local and international organizations .
As Chairperson of Qatar Museums ( QM ), she guides the vision for future museums and cultural projects , with the aim of transforming Qatar into a leading cultural and education center in the region and around the world . In this role , H . E . Sheikha Al Mayassa oversaw a constellation of museums , developed international projects , and made significant purchases for the Qatari national collections .
As she notes , “ most contemporary art is provocative .” Bold public commissions — including Richard Serra ’ s lofty abstract sculpture 7 and Damien Hirst ’ s The Miraculous Journey , a monumental 14-part bronze sequence depicting a developing fetus — show her dedication to bringing pieces that stimulate debate and artistic engagement to Qatar .
Bridging East and West
The Museum of Islamic Art , the flagship project of QM , embodies Qatar ’ s vision of bridging East and West , as well as past and present . “ Art and culture is a religion we can all practice ,” she says . “ People have said , ‘ Let ’ s build bridges ,’ and frankly , I want to do more than that . I would like to break the walls of ignorance between East and West . Art is very powerful because it has no boundaries and you don ’ t need to belong to any country or religion
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