Mathaf opens 'What Lingers in the Artist’s Mind'

Qatar Museums' Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art has launched "What Lingers in the Artist’s Mind," a major exhibition that delves into more than seven decades of Iraqi artistic thought and experimentation. The exhibition, running until February 6, 2027, immerses visitors in the creative and intellectual world of Iraqi artists through a variety of mediums, including paintings, sculptures, sketches, photographs, and archival documents.

Established in 1951 by Jewad Selim and Shakir Hassan al-Said, the Baghdad Modern Art Group initially approached modernism as a platform for innovation. They drew upon Iraq's rich cultural and visual histories, while also engaging with international artistic movements. This exhibition presents over 250 works from Mathaf's significant collection, moving beyond a straightforward historical narrative to explore the group's evolving membership, exhibitions, ideas, and influence.

From the 1940s to the present day, the exhibition showcases how questions of identity, heritage, and modernity that the group initially addressed have been revisited and transformed by successive generations of artists. It also highlights how art history is constructed, featuring archival fragments, photographs, and curatorial research alongside the works themselves.

The exhibition deliberately acknowledges missing works and documentation affected by conflict and displacement, prompting visitors to reflect on art history as a dynamic process of discovery, interpretation, and recovery.

Presented as part of Qatar Museums' Fall/Winter 2026 programme, "What Lingers in the Artist’s Mind" complements a season of major cultural events that underscore Qatar's position as a melting pot of people, cultures, and ideas. This exhibition provides opportunities for discovery, dialogue, and exchange, reflecting the country's role as a bridge between diverse perspectives.