The exhibition will be open until Feb. 17 and is the result of a fruitful collaboration with the National Museum of Indonesia to mark the Qatar-Indonesia Years of Culture 2023. It is hoped that the exhibition can expand the shared tradition between the two countries.

"The exhibition is evidence of the strength of our shared narrative in fostering understanding and collaboration. It is a historic milestone for Qatar-Indonesia," explained Sheikh Abdulaziz Al Thani, director of the National Museum of Qatar.

Through the “Planting Coffee, Enjoying Qahwa” program, the museum recounts the years of cultivation and trade. The exhibition portrays the wide array of history and the culture that has now become the norm, focusing on traditional and contemporary coffee cultures in Qatar and Indonesia, as well as sustainable farming along with social and cultural development.

Indonesia is elated with the grand gesture, as the act of sharing the beverage is one of the many things that bind Qatar and Indonesia together. It is hoped that the relationship in the future will only grow stronger through a deeper exploration of respective cultures during the Year of Culture series.

"I am delighted to witness the extraordinary cultural experience built by the talented teams at the National Museum of Qatar and the National Museum of Indonesia," stated Indonesian Ambassador to Qatar Ridwan Hassan.

Furthermore, the exhibition is also a platform to showcase the transformation of coffee culture in Indonesia. As explained by Hilmar Farid, director general of culture at the Education, Culture, Research and Technology Ministry, there is a certain pride in presenting coffee in the archipelago and its long history, from bitterness to the contemporary sweetness.

"Literally, its fruit is bitter, and historically it has bitter notes. But now we want to show the world that coffee in Indonesia is not just a beverage but carries values and a rich tradition. Therefore, what we exhibit is not just the coffee but the coffee culture," said Hilmar.

The exhibition is expected to portray the history of coffee planting, trading and drinking worldwide, with a specific focus on traditional and contemporary coffee cultures in Qatar and Indonesia, using interactive displays, immersive projections, visual experiences, aromas, soundscapes and more.

The program itself is organized into five thematic sections, starting off with “What is Coffee?”, which focuses on the origin of the term coffee, also known as qahwa by Qataris.

The second, “Growing and Trading Coffee” will convey the history of the beans in the Arab world, covering the vast area between the forests of Ethiopia to the island of Java in Indonesia.

In another nod to Indonesian culture, the exhibition will feature a powerful contemporary art installation, Bloom in Agony (2022) from the Indonesian artist collective Gegerboyo, which explores the relationship between Indonesia's colonial heritage and modern coffee practices.

Moving on to “Roasting and Brewing”, the exhibition involves the audience in a sensory experience using coffee beans and spices that highlight the traditions of roasting and brewing different kinds of coffee. Through video, visitors can learn about the making of qahwa from a Qatari coffee expert and enjoy a coffee-making competition featuring different recipes.

Coffee-drinking enthusiasts may be most excited about the fourth and fifth sections, which are “Planting Coffee, Drinking Qahwa” and “Serving and Drinking” respectively. For the grand finale, the exhibition will showcase the different rituals associated with coffee in the two cultures.

It will include a 360-degree projection that takes visitors to the Philosophy of Coffee, an iconic coffee shop in the heart of Jakarta, while another circular space recalls the majlis of Qatar. Short films will explore the complexity of coffee presentation and drinking etiquette in Qatar, often with humorous results.

The grand finale will be “Coffee and Creativity”, which draws a parallel between the ways coffee helps nurture individuals and the creative industry. This section highlights Indonesian cultural practices, such as batik textiles and traditional mask dances, as well as celebrating artists and entrepreneurs in Qatar.

These activities are carried out through the cooperation of the culture ministry’s Directorate General of Culture, the Indonesian Embassy in Doha and the government of the State of Qatar, especially the National Museum of Qatar, along with a joint curatorial team from the National Museum of Qatar and the National Museum of Indonesia.

The team includes exhibition and multimedia interpretation specialist Dr. Marie-Pierre Lissoir, social and oral history researcher Najma Ahmed, deputy curatorial director Tania Abdulmonem Al Majid, associate curator of social history Sara Saqr Al Mohannadi, associate curator of oral history Sara Al-Maadheed, head curator of oral history Amal Al-Hideous, oral history researcher Sheikha Rawdha Al Thani and members of the National Museum of Indonesia Daroe Handojo, Prawoto Indarto, Sekar Arum Romadhani and Nusi Lisabilla Estudiantin.

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