Watering the Desert




In a formative exhibition that will take place at Yuz Museum Shanghai, Watering the Desert | Contemporary Art from Qatar debuted the first large-scale exhibition of Qatari and Qatar-based contemporary artists to be presented in China. Curated by Qatar Museums’ Issa Al Shirawi and Maryam Hassan Al Thani, the exhibition is organised by Qatar Museums in collaboration with Yuz Museum, which will showcase the work of 34 multidisciplinary artists, designers, and filmmakers working within Qatar’s artistic scene. The exhibition is scheduled to be on view from 8 November 2023 to 3 March 2024.

Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums, stated, " Watering the Desert is the result of a 6-year strategic partnership between Qatar Museums (QM), Yuz Museum (YUZ), and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). Based on this partnership, the exhibition highlights the importance of cross-cultural dialogue and exchanges through art. We are proud to collaborate with Yuz Museum in Shanghai, a prominent Chinese institution and a long-time partner of Qatar Museums, in showcasing and amplifying distinct voices and artistic practices from Qatar. Through the diverse, multidisciplinary works of these exhibited artists, this exhibition presents our thriving and globally connected creative ecosystem which is nourished by our local roots and traditions.”

Sonic Jeel collaborated with new media artist Hadeer Omar on an audiovideo installation for this group exhibition featuring contemporary artists from Qatar.


Qatar Museums Press Release︎
YUZ Museum︎