Image © Qatar Foundation
Doha, Qatar 2025
Maqbool Fida Husain (1915–2011) was a renowned Indian modernist painter and film director. Largely self-taught, he produced a remarkably varied body of work that was widely celebrated – but at times also controversial. This tension led to self-imposed exile in 2006. Husain relocated to Qatar, where he became a Qatari citizen; he never returned to the land of his birth. In reality, he was a self-confessed ‘global nomad,’ and established connections across the Arab world, Britain, Europe and the USA.
Units
16
Display Exhibition Designer
Empty
Dubbed ‘the Picasso of India,’ his bold, vibrant narrative paintings blend Indian culture, mythology and history with modernist artistic techniques. His work reflects the tumultuous times he lived through, and it continues to influence generations of artists worldwide. Husain’s fusion of tradition and modernity, and his commitment to dissolving boundaries, resonates just as profoundly today as it did decades ago.
Now, for the first time, there is a museum dedicated to his remarkable life and work, spanning six decades. Commissioned by the Qatar Foundation, the building is based on a concept sketch by the artist himself, realized by architect Martand Khosla of Romi Khosla Design Studio, with exhibition design by Empty.
Located within Doha’s 12-km² Education City campus, the Museum spans over 3,000m². Inside, visitors can explore an extraordinary, immersive array of Husain’s work that demonstrates his enduring impact on global modern art and cinema. Paintings, films and tapestries are displayed, along with photography, poetry, and installations. A key work is Seeroo fi al ardh (‘Travel through the earth and observe how He began creation’), Husain’s final multimedia masterpiece, which is presented in a dedicated gallery. It is a fine testament to a remarkably prolific artist.
Goppion was entrusted with the engineering and production of three long plinths with thirteen integrated display cases, two freestanding semicircular display cases and one wall mounted display case for the Museum’s permanent galleries. Our state-of-the-art vitrines were all tailored to meet the museum’s specific spatial and conservation requirements.
The cases were engineered to house a variety of objects, from large-scale paintings and mixed-media works to delicate textiles, ensuring optimal conservation across a wide range of material types. Included is a series of huge curved-glass structures, each one standing over three meters tall. We developed alternate opening systems for these monumental curved cases, including crank-operated manual and electro-mechanized systems.
At Goppion, we always place great importance on working in close collaboration with our clients to ensure the very best results. The Lawh Wa Qalam: M. F. Husain Museum project was no exception. All finishes and materials were carefully selected to match the Museum’s architectural vision. Case interiors were designed in close dialogue with the curatorial and conservation team, and include custom mounting, support and lining solutions tailored to individual artworks. Bespoke lighting layouts were also developed for each case. Our considered approach met the requirements of the Museum team, and also honored the artist’s vision.
Each display system is designed to provide airtightness at 0.1 AER (10-day), certified low-emission materials, UV and lux protection, and ssecure object access systems. External lighting systems were calibrated to meet internal thermo-hygrometric requirements.
This landmark project affirms Goppion’s commitment to preserving contemporary and modern masterpieces within the most ambitious museum environments. Far from being a staid archive, Lawh Wa Qalam: M. F. Husain Museum is the living legacy of a singular artistic giant – an inspirational place that encourages learning, creativity and communication without borders.