Qatar Museums has opened the second edition of “Frame and Focus,” a photography exhibition held as part of the Tasweer Photography Festival at Al Hosh Gallery, featuring works by more than 12 photographers from Qatar and the region.
Running through October 5, 2026, the exhibition is presented as part of the Qatar Creates Fall/Winter 2026-27 season and complements a wider programme of exhibitions and events highlighting Qatar’s commitment to cultural exchange, creative dialogue and global connection.
The exhibition is organized in partnership with Qatar Preparatory School (QPS), The VII Foundation and Al Hosh Gallery.
“Frame and Focus” brings together photographic projects exploring themes including identity, memory, heritage, migration and belonging. Drawing on their cultural backgrounds and personal experiences, participating photographers present visual perspectives on place, community and contemporary life.
Speaking to the Qatar News Agency (QNA), Director of Tasweer Photography Festival Khalifa Al Obaidly said the exhibition follows 14 weeks of study, exploration and engagement with international experiences and expertise in photography.
He noted that the exhibition features a diverse collection of artworks by photographers from Qatar, the Gulf countries, North Africa and West Asia.
Al Obaidly also said the exhibition marks the culmination of an advanced photography training course organized by the festival. The course gave participants an opportunity to deepen their knowledge of photographic techniques, develop their artistic practices and benefit from international expertise.
Ziyah Gafic, Director of The VII Foundation in Sarajevo, said “Frame and Focus” reflects the foundation’s belief that telling one’s own story is a fundamental human right. He highlighted how the participating artists contribute to discussions around belonging, memory and resilience through personal perspectives.
Several projects explore personal histories and connections to place, including Maja Bacic’s “I SEA,” Fatima Ahmad Al Doh’s “I, Myself, Am a Country,” and Abdullatif Ahmad Al Nuaimi’s “The First Chalk Line.”
Other works examine traditions, rituals and community life. Abdullatif Al Jaidah’s “The House of God” reflects on the mosque as a place of prayer and hope and as a symbol of continuity, while Al Waleed Al Khaja’s “And This, Too, Shall Pass” and Burair Ali Al Kishri’s “The Rose” explore the role of traditions and community in shaping everyday life and collective memory.
Themes of home, migration and identity are also explored through portraiture, documentary photography and experimental visual storytelling. The participating photographers examine how individuals and communities preserve heritage across generations, navigate displacement and maintain connections to culture and place.
Among the featured projects is Christophe Buffet’s “Basateen Al-Freej (Gardens of the Neighbourhood),” which documents the transformation of a historic educational site into a community space. Jhenny Marian Laya Perez’s “FULAN” and Jaili Hajo’s “We Too Have Wings” further explore different experiences of belonging, memory and identity.
Together, the projects present diverse perspectives on contemporary life in Qatar and beyond, highlighting the different histories, experiences and viewpoints that shape the region.
Participating photographer Abdullatif Ahmad Al Nuaimi told QNA that his contribution, “The First Chalk Line,” is an expression of gratitude and appreciation for teachers.
The project draws inspiration from old school buildings in Qatar and from his father, who worked as a teacher in the 1970s. Through the work, Al Nuaimi seeks to recognize the contribution of teachers and their role in educating students and helping build previous generations.
Tasweer Photography Festival is also hosting a tour of the “Frame and Focus” exhibition alongside a discussion session with participating artists at Al Hosh Gallery. The session focuses on the importance of photography education and the role of artistic practice in expressing personal experiences, cultural narratives and contemporary issues.
