The Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) presents ‘Golden Spider Silk’, an exhibition that will take place until July 6th, 2024, at the temporary exhibition gallery, fourth floor, Museum of Islamic Art. Spider silk creators Simon Peers and Nicholas Godley’s textiles are the result of over twenty years of experimentation with the material. In 2004, the duo embarked upon this grand project of producing and creating textiles made with spiders’ silk.
The ‘Golden Spider Silk’ exhibition will, for the first time, showcase all four finished textiles together, alongside historic manuscripts and folios documenting the process. This includes a magnificent embroidered cape, brocaded weave lamba (lamba akotifahana), sheer taffeta, and a satin weave shawl. These textiles are the only examples of golden spider silk in the world, and this is the first time that they will be on display in the Middle East. The exhibition will also feature a 15-minute video of Simon Peers discussing the history of golden spider silk.
Shaika Al-Nassr, Director of the Museum of Islamic Art, said: “The Golden Spider Silk exhibition sets itself apart by embracing sustainability as their key approach and goes on to highlight the use of eco-friendly vegan silk in the production of its final exhibit pieces - a reflection of the sustainability theme within the Qatar National Vision 2030.”
Golden Spider Silk creator Simon Peers reflected on the fact that each textile tells a very contemporary story, a confluence of global cultural currents and eclectic borrowings. He added: “These are works made after careful consideration and reflection, and with skills acquired after much time and effort. Ultimately, they are creations in which the medium is the message.”
Many of their works have been on display over the years in public and private collections including: The British Museum; London; Metropolitan Museum, New York; The Art Institute Chicago; The American Museum of Natural History, New York; The Cleveland Museum of Art, Ohio; Fowler Museum UCLA, Los Angeles; The Field Museum, Chicago; The National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian, Washington DC; and the Museum of Ethnography, Osaka, Japan.
One of the world’s premier institutions of Islamic art and the first world-class museum in the region, the reimagined MIA provides a more accessible, engaging, and educational experience for guests. Around 1,000 objects – many newly conserved or acquired – are displayed in the museum’s permanent galleries for the first time, alongside the masterpieces for which MIA has long been recognised.
*ENDS*
About Museum of Islamic Art
Founded in 2008, the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) is one of the earliest projects initiated by Qatar Museums. Designed by the renowned Chinese-American architect I. M. Pei, the MIA is a globally acclaimed museum that stands majestically on Doha’s Corniche, surrounded by panoramic views of the city’s waterfront. The museum showcases a world-class collection of Islamic art spanning over 1,400 years, from the 7th to the 20th century, and includes manuscripts, ceramics, metal, glass, ivory, textiles, wood, and precious stones amongst its masterpieces. The collection highlights artworks from three continents, ranging from Spain in the west to Indonesia in the east. The MIA hosts a full rotating programme of exhibitions that illustrate the rich heritage of the Islamic world as well as educational activities for school children and families, making it a vital part of the community. The MIA has become a popular museum both in the region and internationally, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. Shaika Nasser Al-Nassr has been recently appointed as the Museum Director.
Press Contacts:
Lamis Nassar: lnassar@qm.org.qa | +9744405418