CONNECT-IT / Visions To Connect The World is a free immersive exhibition presenting the uniqueness of the Italian infrastructure industry. The show, which is on view at Atrium Z in Msheireb Downtown Doha, has been organised by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with ANCE (the Italian National Association of Construction Companies). The curation team includes Tullia Iori, an Associate Professor at Rome Tor Vergata University, along with Ludovico Pratesi, and Marco Bassan. The exhibition will be open to the public until the 14th of September, 2024.
Dedicated to Italian excellence in engineering, CONNECT-IT explores masterpieces constructed in Italy and all over the world. It comprises five sections, each devoted to a particular theme: Landscape, Cities, History, Heritage, and Borders. There is also one more section that focuses on Italian infrastructures constructed globally by Italian firms.
The exhibition takes visitors on an interactive adventure, guiding them through sensory immersion into the heart of exceptional Italian works. Texts, pictures, music, and videos by famous artists featured in the show provide unique and evocative interpretations of the infrastructure.
Valentino Valentini (Italy’s Deputy Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy), who inaugurated the exhibition, said: “This is an exhibition about engineering, Italy, our prowess, and the deep bond between Italy and Qatar.” He highlighted the cultural and functional significance of the displayed buildings, noting how they represent the strong connection between the two nations. Deputy Minister Valentini also said: “[The] exhibition […] will show the rest of the world how we, together, can be contributing not only to making the world a better place. […] Our friendship can also be a symbol of a wider and more important friendship throughout the world.” Additionally, Valentini noted that architecture is not just about constructing buildings but about shaping the way we live together and enhancing humanity’s welfare and future.
Paolo Toschi (Italy’s Ambassador to Qatar) called CONNECT-IT a blend of two essential ideas. The first one is about how important it is to design quality infrastructure, do it effectively, and perform at the best standard on the global market. The second idea is that in doing so, you are creating culture: perpetuating an act of it. Toschi spotlighted Italy’s commitment to not only build outstanding infrastructures in Doha but also to be part of the city’s cultural development.
To get more information about CONNECT-IT / Visions To Connect The World, please visit the official web page of the event.
While in Doha, you might also be interested in going to Mathaf, The Arab Museum of Modern Art.