The limits of my language are the limits of my world: Media Majlis Museum Inaugurates a New Exhibition around Arabic Language

Media Majlis Museum (mm:museum) at Northwestern University in Qatar has inaugurated its eighth mixed-media exhibition, The limits of my language are the limits of my world, exploring the Arabic language, its imprints from the past, its multifaceted present and precarious future. Curated by cultural producer and Northwestern Qatar alumna Amal Zeyad Ali, it will run until December 5, 2024.

In line with the museum’s mission, the new exhibition combines art, media, and technology to examine the present representations, historical impacts, and future of the Arabic language. Throughout history, Arabic has shaped tastes, perceptions, and narratives worldwide across culture, politics, social relations, trade, and science. Nowadays, however, Arabic faces challenges of misrepresentation, especially in a digital and globalized world where English increasingly prevails. This exhibition invites visitors to explore the rich history and influence of the Arabic language and to reflect on its place in the future.

mm:museum - The limits of my language are the limits of my world - Exhibition view | Photo courtesy mm:museum

The exhibition revolves around four key themes that offer an immersive journey and thoughtful reflection. The first theme, “Always another side?,” introduces the Arabic language and its complexities, challenging the often negative stereotypes associated with it by highlighting its beauty, diversity, and cultural richness. It allows for a re-framing of the language and showcases that there is always another side.

The second theme, “An influential and powerful language?,” explores Arabic's influence as a powerful language that has shaped politics, religion, science, and culture worldwide, illustrating its impact through linguistic borrowing and cultural exchange. It demonstrates that this process is not always seamless.

The third theme, “Does media representation matter?,” examines the portrayal of Arabic in contemporary media, questioning how the language is represented and its prominence in a rapidly globalizing, tech-driven world. It asses the availability of and access to Arabic content and media, as well as its quality and quantity.

The final theme, “Is Arabic a language of the future?,” discusses the future of Arabic, questioning whether current efforts to preserve, protect, and conserve the language are effective and how they can be improved or rethought.

The limits of my language are
the limits of my world

Media Majlis Museum (mm:museum)
Education City, Al Luqta St, Ar-Rayyan, Qatar
27 August - 5 December, 2024

Curator: Amal Zeyad Ali
Artists: Hala Amer, Latifa Al Ali, Zainab Alsabba, Hussein Alazaat, Yusef Alahmad, Simon Mortimer, Karim Jabbari, Morcos Key.

The Media Majlis Museum (mm:museum) is named after the traditional Arab "majlis”: gathering place. The name inspires the museum’s mission of being a central community hub, connecting local cultural values with universal and global issues.

A brief history

Established in May 2019 with its inaugural exhibition, “Arab Identities: Images in Film”, mm:museum quickly became a key reference point for students and the wider community in the region. Its focus on integrating advanced technology with cultural fields such as art and communication has enhanced visitor engagement through interactive experiences. A significant milestone was achieved in 2022 when the museum received accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), further solidifying its role in the field. In 2024, the museum underwent a rebranding and is now known as The Media Majlis Museum.

Mission

mm:museum at Northwestern Qatar transcends the traditional role of museums by fostering intellectual exploration, promoting open dialogue, and inspiring innovation through the intersection of art, communication, and technology towards a better world. mm:museum is committed to showcasing a diverse range of artworks and non-object-based artifacts, including digital narratives and visualizations, to engage both professional audiences and the broader public in an immersive and intellectually stimulating experience.

Website: www.mediamajlismuseum.com
Instagram: @themediamajlis

Since its opening in 2019, the Media Majlis Museum has become a central player in Qatar’s cultural scene. What are the goals and the mission of the museum?

Director: Media Majlis Museum (mm:museum) aims to redefine the role of museums by embracing a mission centered around intellectual exploration and innovation. We are keen to promote open dialogue at the intersection of art, communication, and technology, by showcasing a diverse array of artworks and non-object-based artifacts. Our mission is to showcase diverse perspectives that engage both professional audiences and the broader public in immersive and intellectually stimulating experiences. We want to talk to the next generation of young professionals and creatives to create thought-provoking content and create spaces for conversations.

Since its opening, the museum has hosted a variety of thought-provoking exhibitions. How does the museum decide on themes for its exhibitions, and how do you ensure they remain relevant to both local and global audiences?

Director: Since its opening in May 2019 with the inaugural exhibition Arab Identities, images in film, mm:museum has emphasized integrating advanced technology with cultural fields such as art and communication. This integration serves as a key criterion for deciding on exhibition themes. To ensure relevance, we focus on creating content that is relatable to the local community while also addressing current global issues. By curating exhibitions that provoke thought and discussion, we aim to foster an environment where visitors can engage with important topics., encouraging dialogue and reflection, making the museum a space for exploring pressing issues that transcend cultural and geographic boundaries.

For Mr. Cramerotti, Museum Director. The museum focuses on the intersection of art, media, and technology. In a world that seems to be increasingly dependent on technologies such as AI, what is the role of a museum like yours? How do you interact with such technologies, and how do you plan to raise awareness of their impact on our future?

Director: Mm:museum wants to be a vital cultural hub for conversation and intellectual exploration, as it not only engages with these technologies but also uses them actively to bridge local and international communities. To interact with technologies, the museum incorporates digital tools and platforms into its exhibitions and programs, enhancing visitor engagement through interactive experiences. By showcasing works that utilize AI, virtual reality, and multimedia storytelling, the museum highlights the innovative ways technology can intersect with art and media.
In addition, the museum aims to raise awareness of the impact of these technologies on our future through educational programs, workshops, and discussions also around the ethical implications and societal effects of technology. What is key for any cultural player in the world, and for a museums at the intersection of art, media and technology in particular, is not only to present and adopt technological innovation in the development of human culture, but to assess it with a critical eye with the help of media producers, artists and technologists. It’s not enough to celebrate, it’s equally important to raise questions about it.

Let’s now move to the exhibition. The limits of my language are the limits of my world. Could you elaborate on the significance of the exhibition's title and how it aligns with the museum's broader mission of fostering intellectual exploration and open dialogue?

Director: The exhibition title and meaning align closely with the museum's broader mission of fostering intellectual exploration and open dialogue. The title itself emphasizes the profound relationship between language, identity, and perception, suggesting that our understanding of the world is shaped by the languages we speak. Through these interactive experiences, participants are invited to explore and challenge their perspectives and serves as a platform for meaningful conversations about the impact of language and technology, reinforcing the museum's commitment to intellectual exploration and cultural dialogue.

Given the prominence of English in global media, what role do you believe cultural institutions like the Media Majlis Museum should play in preserving and promoting the Arabic language?

Director: mm:museum - like any institution in the Arab world - should recognize the historical and cultural significance of Arabic within our region and globally and aim at expanding its knowledge and beauty throughout the global community. Specifically, we are working towards its development and promotion, particularly in response to Law No. 7 of 2019, issued by His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, which outlines guidelines for safeguarding Arabic in various institutions. Thanks to exhibitions, workshops, and community programs, the museum engages both local and international audiences. We also want to encourage a deeper understanding of the Arabic language's rich heritage and emphasize the importance of nurturing the next generation's connection to Arabic, ensuring that it remains a living language that evolves alongside technological advancements and global communication trends.

For the exhibition Curator, Amal Zeyad Ali. As a Northwestern Qatar alumna, how did your academic background and experiences shape your approach to curating this exhibition on the Arabic language?

Curator: My academic background and experiences have profoundly shaped my approach to curating exhibitions, particularly with my first-ever curated exhibition at Media Majlis Museum and allowed me to strive for excellence, accessibility, collaboration and community-building across the board. During my time as a student, I had ample opportunities to grow and develop, including discovering my passion for museums and the arts at large. I was able to take courses that enriched my understandings and abilities in fields such as research and media personally, creatively and professionally. With Media Majlis Museum being a part of Northwestern Qatar, I was able to be a part of the inaugural exhibition, and grow alongside the museum team and team at Northwestern Qatar to get to where we are today. I was taught to question everything and show that there are multiple sides to a story or topic.

mm:museum - The limits of my language are the limits of my world - Opening reception | Photo courtesy mm:museum

The exhibition explores the influence of the Arabic language and its challenges in a digital and globalized world. What message do you hope visitors will take away regarding the future of the Arabic language and its representation in the media?

Curator: Through this exhibition, I hope visitors come to understand the profound significance of the Arabic language as both a cultural treasure and a living, evolving entity in today’s digital and globalized world. Arabic is not just a means of communication; it is a vessel for rich cultural heritage, history, and identity. However, the language faces significant challenges, particularly in how it is represented and preserved in an era dominated by global media and digital platforms where English often prevails.
I want visitors to leave with many questions and a feeling of responsibility regarding the future of Arabic. The exhibition is for all of us globally to actively engage in preserving and promoting the language, ensuring it remains vibrant and relevant in modern contexts. This includes advocating for greater representation of Arabic in digital spaces, supporting media that honors the language's depth and diversity, and embracing both traditional and contemporary forms of Arabic.

This exhibition features diverse media, from digital content to physical objects. What was your curatorial process in selecting these pieces, and how do they contribute to the exhibition’s narrative on the Arabic language?

Curator: My curatorial process involved a desire to amplify local and regional voices when it came to the Arabic language, as well as voices in diaspora. It was important to unpack the language from a diverse array of angles and perspectives, including those that may be challenging or critical. I wanted to be able to also include a variety of means for audiences to engage which is why this exhibition includes digital content, physical objects, artworks and installations, poetry and more.

The exhibition includes collaborations with various artists and creators from across the Arab world. How important is it for the museum to engage with contemporary voices, and what impact does this have on younger audiences?

Director: Engaging with contemporary voices is crucial for mm:museum, especially in its efforts to connect with younger audiences. The younger generation is key to our mission, and our museum's focus on integrating technology and art allows us to speak directly to those who are immersed in the digital world. By collaborating with various artists and creators from across the Arab world, we aim to find common ground and use the same language as these young people. This approach facilitates conversations that raise diverse perspectives and encourages critical thinking.
Artists, filmmakers, journalists and media producers of new generations organically live at the intersection of technology and cultural expression, and do not separate them in their work and personal life. The audience in general are now a generation of “prosumers”, the hybris between producer and consumers when it comes to images and visuals. mm:museum is embracing this hybridity in terms of content typology, display solution, user experience, and cultural offer in general – we can do because we are a museum of the next generation which can adapt to these rapid generational changes and run accordingly.

Collateral events and public program

The exhibition also features a Takween Mural, a life-size modular magnetic block developed in collaboration with Akwan and designer Lujain Abulfaraj. This set allows visitors of all ages to form Arabic letters and words through play, fostering a deeper connection with the language.

In addition to art pieces, the exhibition also features spoken word performances by Egyptian-Australian poet Salwa Sadek and Palestinian poet Dana Dajani, who explore themes of identity in dialogue with voices of prominent content creators such as Salam Katanani and Qasem Elhato from Jordan, exploring why they create content in Arabic and draw audiences.

A selection of digital content, including music videos, comedy skits from American comedians Maz Jobrani and Mo Amer, animations from the Qatar Foundation, documentaries, and talks from TED and TEDx, are also featured. These were provided by partners Al Jazeera, BBC Arabic, and Al Araby TV, adding a multimedia dimension to the exploration of Arabic language and culture.

A filmed debate titled “Where do you stand?,” moderated by Qatari stand-up comedian and presenter Hamad Al-Amari, features discussions on the role of the Arabic language in modern society, with participants from diverse backgrounds.

Accompanying the exhibition is a special edition of the museum’s publication, Voices and Conversations, titled The beauty, complexity and diversity of Arabic proverbs and sayings, featuring a foreword by Dean Kraidy and an epilogue by curator Amal Zeyad Ali. The publication is an edited volume, edited by Amal Zeyad Ali and Jack Thomas Taylor, who serves as curator of art, media and technology at the museum.

The museum will also organize a public program in collaboration with afikra (عفكرة), which is a global community dedicated to cultivating curiosity around the histories and cultures of the Arab World, focusing on the use of Arabic in storytelling in aspects such as artificial intelligence, visual arts, film, publishing and social media. It will take place on October 26, 2024, and feature panel discussions, performances, and activations by local and regional voices. Leading up to the program, afikra will run a podcast series in partnership with the museum on their platform.