On The Move: Reframing Nomadic Pastoralism explores nomadic pastoral life in Qatar from the 18th century to the discovery of oil. It examines how people lived, travelled, and built their lives in close relationship with animals and the environment.
Presented at the National Museum of China in Beijing, this newest edition of the exhibition offers a closer look at nomadic life in Qatar, where movement, knowledge and making shaped a resilient and deeply connected way of life.
Photo: © Moesgaard Museum
At its centre are the tents people made and lived in, which served as homes, social spaces, and practical solutions for a mobile way of life. Through objects and stories, the exhibition presents a culture that was self-sufficient, adaptable, and deeply rooted in knowledge, skill, and tradition.
The exhibition features more than 150 artefacts from Qatar, alongside photographs, films, oral histories, and archival material, inviting visitors to discover the lives, knowledge, and creativity of Qatar's nomadic and semi-nomadic communities from the 18th century until the discovery of oil.
A key feature of the exhibition is Mapping Migration Memories, an immersive sound installation created in collaboration with Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts Qatar (VCUarts Qatar). Set within a landscape of sand, the work follows two Qatari women as they retrace and reimagine the seasonal journeys of their nomadic ancestors, reflecting on memory, movement, and belonging across generations.
Exhibition Highlights
The international journey of On the Move reflects the lasting impact of Years of Culture, fostering ongoing cultural dialogue and collaboration between Qatar and communities around the world.
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Past Exhibition
On the Move
Presented at the National Museum of Qatar from October 2022 until January 2023, this groundbreaking exhibition offered a glimpse into the lives of nomadic and semi-nomadic peoples across three distinct regions: Central Sahara, Qatar and Mongolia.