Qatar Doha | Museum of Islamic Art

The Museum of Islamic Art. When we think of the masterpieces left to the world by the Chinese architectural master Mr. I. M. Pei, we might think of the glass pyramid of the Louvre, or the Jiangnan charm of the Suzhou Museum's main building, but his true final work is actually this Museum of Islamic Art in Qatar Doha. It took him two years to find inspiration for the architecture around the world, and finally, he incorporated elements of a thousand years of Islamic civilization into every architectural detail. As the master said, the most beautiful architecture should be built above time, and time will give all the answers. The light-colored stones placed on the exterior change their form with the light and shadow. The five-story high glass curtain wall on the north facade presents a majestic panorama of the bay. The interior uses a large number of Islamic patterns, with metal-wrapped geometric shapes symbolizing the sun's light in the desert, creating a powerful sense of awe with precise and pure geometry. If you look at it from the sea, it is as if you see an Islamic woman under a veil, enchanting and vivid. The Museum of Islamic Art is even more interesting for its exhibits. It houses the personal collection of the legendary Dowager Queen of Qatar, Sheikha Mozah. Her appeal lies not only in her more inspirational life story than Zhen Huan but also in her unique artistic taste. The treasures she bought from all over the world are all placed in Doha's National Museum and this Museum of Islamic Art. The Museum of Islamic Art mainly houses artifacts related to Islamic culture. It categorizes and introduces artifacts from ancient Persia such as miniature paintings, carpets, porcelain, etc.; Ottoman Turkey's gold and silverware, ceramics; Mughal India's jewelry; Southeast Asian handicrafts; and even artifacts from the Muslim period in Spain. There is also a Silk Road pavilion, which displays artifacts from a Chinese merchant ship of the maritime Silk Road salvaged in Indonesian waters. The highlights are two Longquan celadon plates from Zhejiang and a jade pot with Qianlong's poetry. In addition, there are Muslim element porcelains and ancient books. The most impressive is the current first-floor boutique exhibition, which displays artifacts from ancient Persia such as miniature paintings, carpets, and clothing customs. Sasha just returned from Iran, having seen the splendor of Isfahan and the culture of Ferdowsi's tomb, and now seeing the manuscript illustrations of Ferdowsi's 'Shahnameh' and old oil paintings of Isfahan, truly feels like time traveling. The museum's opening hours are: 9 am - 7 pm (Saturday - Thursday); Friday 1 pm - 7 pm However, the hours vary greatly during Ramadan. When I visited, it opened at 8 pm and closed at midnight , so it's recommended to check the opening hours before setting out.