LATIN AMERICA IN QATAR: A MILESTONE FOR MALBA

As part of the Qatar-Argentina-Chile 2025 Year of Culture, the National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ) is hosting a selection of 170 works from the Malba and Eduardo F. Costantini Collections. The initiative aims to promote respect and understanding among diverse cultures and serve as a catalyst to bring people together.

"Qatar has established itself as a global destination for those seeking extraordinary experiences in art, culture, and heritage. In line with the Qatar National Vision 2030, we are proud to serve as a cultural hub at one of the world's crossroads, using art to foster dialogue, build bridges between cultures, and promote mutual understanding," said Sheikha Reem Al Thani, Deputy CEO of Exhibitions, Public Art, and Rubayia at Qatar Museums.

The exhibition, co-curated by María Amalia García, Chief Curator at Malba, and Issa Al Shirawi, Co-Curator and Head of International Exhibitions at Qatar Museums, features works in a variety of formats by 109 artists from Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Chile, Colombia, Venezuela, Paraguay, and Cuba.

Key pieces in Latin American art history are included, such as Self-Portrait with Monkey and Parrot (1942) by Frida Kahlo, Dance in Tehuantepec (1928) by Diego Rivera, Juanito Asleep (1978) by Antonio Berni, Omi Obini (1943) by Wifredo Lam, Harmony (1956) by Remedios Varo, and Composition with Green Tones (1939) by Roberto Matta, among many others. The exhibition also features The Sculpture of Dreams (2023) by Marta Minujín, previously shown in Times Square, New York.

Issa Al Shirawi highlighted the importance for Qatar Museums of continuing to provide new perspectives and emphasized “how Latin American artists have challenged narratives, redefined traditions, and influenced artistic movements across the globe.”

Meanwhile, Teresa Bulgheroni, President of the Malba Foundation, stated: “This first exchange is a milestone in the museum’s history, as it underscores our commitment to an international profile and our mission to bring Latin American art to global audiences. The collaboration with the Qatar Museum not only expands the reach of our works but also opens new paths for cultural dialogue between Latin America and the Arab world.”

The exhibition reexamines Latin American art through critical frameworks and historical narratives of regional art. It is structured around five thematic sections: Latin America’s geography, the plurality of its identities, the development of its cities, intense social tensions, and the emancipatory artistic processes that have taken place across the continent. The curatorial approach aims to offer accessible interpretive keys, considering the significant opportunity for Latin American art to gain recognition in Arab countries.

Costantini, who has collected key works of Latin American modern art since the late 1980s, explained: “With a focus on Latin American modern art, my goal has always been to bring together the best works from the most important periods of the region’s central artists. It brings me great joy that these pieces generate interest in cultures so distant from our own. This collaboration with the Qatar Museum reflects our ongoing commitment to promoting Latin American art and expanding its reach to an international audience.”