Decolonization and the politics of display: A case study from the National Museum of Qatar

Abstract

The exhibition “On the Move: Reframing Nomadic Pastoralism” was the flagship exhibition organized by the National Museum of Qatar for the World Cup 2022 period. The exhibition aimed to contextualize the nomadic past of Qatar within a broader, global cultural frame, as well as to create an ethnographic exhibition that would be appealing to a variety of audiences. The challenges of such an ambitious project, however, were multiple: representing cultures that have been exoticized and “othered” by western societies for centuries comes with efforts to overcome deeply embedded stereotypes. These stereotypes are usually both external and internal; they are convenient and retaining them becomes part of multiple agendas. How is it then possible to confront these stereotypes and move beyond them? How is it possible to present the past not as a timeless situation of bliss, but as a historical process of continuous change? How it is possible to de-colonize representations of the self and others within the frame of a national museum and in collaboration with partner institutions having their own agendas and expertise? Who is to be included in this process and how? What is the role of the different stakeholders and what are the limits of their interventions? This paper presents reflection to the above questions and aims to encourage thought on the politics of representation and decolonization. Examples for specific exhibits and processes during the setting of this exhibition will be used to support the discussion and offer a comprehensive and reflective account of exhibition making in cultural heritage institutions in the Gulf.