Katara presents Constantin Boym: Learning from Mabkhara

Following the success of last year’s Shared Glass Exhibition, Katara, the Cultural Village proudly presents Constantin Boym: Learning from Mabkhara.

The exhibition will open at 7:00pm on Thursday 8^th November at Katara Gallery, Gallery 2, Building 13 and will run until the 1^st December 2012.

Featuring unique and exquisite shapes and designs, Mabkhara is a traditional Arab incense burner, an authentic object typically used as daily domestic activities in the Arab world. Incense burners serve as representations of sensorial culture of the East, much celebrated in the world of literature and arts of the last two centuries.

The exhibition will present the new objects alongside their traditional prototypes from the region, to illustrate the process of “learning” and to better highlight the dialectic between continuity and innovation.

Commenting on the occasion, Sa’id Costa, The Curator of Exhibitions and Educational Programs of Katara said: “Following the success of the Shared Glass Exhibition we are delighted to welcome back Constantin Boym. This beautiful collection, hand-made by the glass master Massimo Lunardon in Veneto, Italy, promotes a new vision for the traditional objects of Arab culture.

He continued, “This exhibition is a testament of our commitment to nurturing local talents as well as providing a platform for cultural exchange.”

The collection of incense burners are made of borosilicate (Pyrex), a special glass that is clear and heat-resistant.

The traditional formal language is extended into the realm of new materials and technologies, reflecting changing conditions of material culture in the Gulf.

Constantin Boym is a Professor and Inaugural Director of Graduate Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar. This project has been supported by Faculty Research Grants from VCUQatar.

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