QM Opens 2nd "Frame and Focus" Exhibition at Al Hosh Gallery

Doha, Qatar | September 05, 2026 – Qatar Museums has opened the second edition of "Frame and Focus," an exhibition held as part of the Tasweer Photography Festival at Al Hosh Gallery, featuring works by more than 12 photographers from Qatar and the wider region.

Part of Qatar Creates Fall/Winter Season

Running through October 5, the exhibition forms part of the Qatar Creates Fall/Winter 2026-27 season, complementing a broader programme of exhibitions and events that reflect Qatar's ongoing commitment to cultural exchange, creative dialogue, and global connection. The exhibition is organized in partnership with the Qatar Preparatory School (QPS), The VII Foundation, and Al Hosh Gallery.

Exploring Identity, Memory, and Belonging

The exhibition presents photographic projects exploring themes of identity, memory, heritage, migration, and belonging. Drawing on their cultural backgrounds and personal experiences, the participating photographers offer profound visual perspectives on place, community, and contemporary life.

Festival Director Highlights Months of Preparation

Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Tasweer Photography Festival Director Khalifa Al Obaidly said "Frame and Focus" comes after 14 weeks of study, exploration, and engagement with international expertise in photography. He noted that the exhibition showcases a diverse collection of works by photographers from Qatar, the Gulf countries, North Africa, and West Asia.

Al Obaidly added that the exhibition marks the culmination of an advanced photography training course organized by the festival, giving participants the opportunity to deepen their technical knowledge, develop their artistic practices, and benefit from international expertise in the field.

VII Foundation Director Praises Personal Storytelling

Ziyah Gafic, Director of The VII Foundation in Sarajevo, said "Frame and Focus" reflects a belief that telling one's own story is a fundamental human right, adding that amid global turmoil and competing narratives, the participating artists enrich discussions around belonging, memory, and resilience through work marked by rigor, empathy, and deeply personal perspectives.

Diverse Projects Reflect Personal Histories

Several projects in the exhibition draw on personal histories and connections to place, including Maja Bacic's I SEA, Fatima Ahmad Al Doh's I, Myself, Am a Country, and Abdullatif Ahmad Al Nuaimi's The First Chalk Line.

Abdullatif Al Jaidah's The House of God reflects on the mosque as a space for prayer, hope, and continuity, while Al Waleed Al Khaja's And This, Too, Shall Pass and Burair Ali Al Kishri's The Rose explore how traditions, rituals, and community shape everyday life and collective memory.

Themes of Migration and Heritage Take Center Stage

Themes of home, migration, and identity feature prominently through portraiture, documentary photography, and experimental visual storytelling, with several photographers examining how individuals and communities preserve heritage across generations, navigate displacement, and maintain ties to culture and place.

From Christophe Buffet's Basateen Al-Freej (Gardens of the Neighbourhood), documenting the transformation of a historic educational site into a vibrant community space, to Jhenny Marian Laya Perez's FULAN and Jaili Hajo's We Too Have Wings, the works reveal the many dimensions through which belonging is experienced, remembered, and reimagined.

Together, the projects offer a nuanced portrait of contemporary life in Qatar and beyond, reflecting the diversity of perspectives, histories, and lived experiences shaping the region today.

Photographer Reflects on Tribute to Teachers

Participating photographer Abdullatif Ahmad Al Nuaimi told QNA that his project, The First Chalk Line, is an expression of gratitude for teachers, drawing inspiration from old school buildings in Qatar and from his father, who worked as a teacher in the 1970s. He said the project aims to express appreciation to teachers past and present for their role in shaping and educating generations of students.

Gallery Tour and Artist Discussion Set for Sunday

The Tasweer Photography Festival will host a guided tour of the "Frame and Focus" exhibition on Sunday, alongside a discussion session with participating artists at Al Hosh Gallery. The session will explore the importance of photography education and the role of artistic practice in expressing personal experiences, cultural narratives, and contemporary issues.

Source: QNA