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I.M. Pei: A Museum on the Water

25 November 2025 | Produced by Wadha Al-Mesalam

Inimitable architect I.M. Pei boasted a unique and special relationship with the Arab and Islamic world. This film explores this and his affinity for the state of Qatar through one of his most recognised and lauded projects, the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA).

Qatar Museums

I.M. Pei: Life is Architecture is the first full-scale retrospective of architect Ieoh Ming Pei (1917–2019), offering an in-depth exploration of his seven-decade career.

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Personally invited by His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Father Amir, Pei came out of retirement to embark on a profound exploration of the Islamic world in search of inspiration, a journey that led to one of the most iconic cultural landmarks in the region.

Filmed across Doha, New York, Geneva, Istanbul, and Paris, A Museum on the Water celebrates the harmony between art, architecture, and landscape, and the timeless beauty of a museum that rises from the sea as a monument to Islamic heritage.

More stories about: Architecture Heritage Islamic Art

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