Mashael Al Hejazi’s installation at Barahat Al Jufairi’s majlis honours the social and architectural character of this historic district of Doha and the collective memories and narratives of the Al Baraha community. The majlis is a place for social gathering that welcomes people in - and into - the neighbourhood. Al Hejazi breathes life back into this prominent place with her portraiture of family members and poetically draws the neighbouring streets into the space with her cyanotype prints of architectural details and street scenes from Al Baraha. The overarching theme of her work is to re-inhabit this traditional Qatari place with the characteristics of a loving home and family, interwoven through the connecting spaces of the majlis, the mother’s room, and the liwan (courtyard).
Mashael Al Hejazi has been making photographs about the Msheireb area for the past eight years. Her photographic exploration began with her walks through the district which led to her realisation that this was a place that was embedded in her earliest memories. It was where her grandfather’s house was located and where she had lived during a period of her childhood.
The majlis is a place for social gathering that welcomes people in - and into - the neighbourhood. Al Hejazi breathes life back into this prominent place with her portraiture of family members and poetically draws the neighbouring streets into the space with her cyanotype prints of architectural details and street scenes from Al Baraha. The overarching theme of her work is to re-inhabit this traditional Qatari place with the characteristics of a loving home and family, interwoven through the connecting spaces of the majlis, the mother’s room, and the liwan.
“ My ongoing documentation project centres on historic Qatari neighbourhoods. In the beginning, I was focused on the district of Msheireb because that is where I spent my childhood. I feel a connection to this place, and I have many beautiful memories. ”
“ I let my memories direct my attention to the details of a door or window because no matter how much it changed and the building started to decay naturally, the door and window frame remained strong. ”
The installation is initiated and organised by Tasweer in partnership with Qatar Museums’ Cultural Heritage Protection Department.