My Cultural Journey to Doha

Sofia Fuentes Dosal, Qatar

Sofia Fuentes Dosal works as Exhibitions Registrar at Mathaf (Arab Museum of Modern Art) in Education City. As part of the GOALS program, Sofia tells her story of growing up as a football fan in Mexico City, her passion for art history, and immersing herself in Qatari culture after moving to the country in 2020, including volunteering at the Afghan Compound.

I grew up in an amazing, loud, vivid, and chaotic place called Mexico City - a city that, among other things, taught me to love art. Looking back, I would say that certain moments made it clear art would have an important role in my life.

As I was growing up, my mom had the amazing ability to find the most interesting activities. There was one specifically where kids played a scavenger hunt in the museum, collecting stamps as they found clues. An activity that was in itself a clue into my future, as it showed me to love museums, always wondering what could be around the corner, and craving the stories that artworks could tell through images. 

In a way, I guess I never stopped being that little girl that sees museums as places for exploration, visiting every time with the same curiosity I first experienced when I was seven years old. 

As a child, I had a sense of discovering new knowledge. Everything would tell me a different story. Every piece of art was a new discovery, a new adventure that had no boundaries, as I could be easily transported all over the world or, perhaps more importantly, back into a deep look of ourselves.

Out of these family activities, I found my way in school to focus on art and history, and without any certainty of where this path would lead, I followed art through my school years. I love art, I love the creative process; and by following my passion, I ended up studying art history at the Ibero-American University in Mexico.

As a university student, there was an exhibition in Mexico City at one of my favorite museums of a Lebanese contemporary artist called Walid Raad. It was, for me, my first encounter with art from the Middle East, and it left an impact that resonated with me for years.

Walid Raad envisioned art in a new dimension, presenting visual languages and possibilities that were completely new to me but in such an approachable way that it was not foreign. He presented through his artworks a multicultural future while placing his cultural identity at the centre.

I then went on to do a Masters's degree in the UK, focused on Contemporary Art. Shortly after I finished, I had the incredible opportunity to intern at the V&A (Victoria and Albert Museum) in London.

The V&A held an annual exhibition of young emerging artists from the region, presenting the contemporary cultural panorama of the Middle East, and it was then that my curiosity resurfaced, and I became fascinated with art from the region - and in particular Qatar. This interest led me to apply for a job at Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, where I happily work now.

When I arrived in Doha, it was March 8, 2020. The next week, the world shut down for the COVID pandemic. If I am being honest, I did not have a cultural shock, I was too immersed in the new COVID reality, as was the rest of the world. For me, getting to know the city took months, and with it, I had a slow immersion into Qatari culture. 

The way I would usually explore the city changed as all the museums were closed, and going outside was not allowed, leaving me with time to research and learn about Qatar. As a result, I learned so much about the culture and the city during quarantine, craving the moment I would go out and see.

Two years have passed by, and I still work at Mathaf, fulfilling my childhood dream of being in contact with artworks and to know the story of the objects. My role in the museum is behind the scenes, installation being my favorite part of the process.

Since I started working, I have had many different experiences and opportunities, and last year we had the solo exhibition of acclaimed artist Kader Attia. Among the artworks he presented, there was an installation that featured human prosthetics hanging from the ceiling. Installing them has been one of the most impactful experiences of my life. The opportunity to work with the artist and hear the stories behind the prosthetics was truly emotional; it was so meaningful, creating beauty out of suffering.

In 2021 I started volunteering at the Afghan Compound after Qatar Foundation reached out to Mathaf looking for volunteers. I wanted to help in any way possible, so I signed up and was assigned to support the nursery. I volunteered one or two days a week after work, working with children, teenagers, and mothers.

I was moved by the stories of all the people that left their whole lives and belongings in Afghanistan in search of a better life.

The experience taught me about resilience and compassion. I met wonderful people that showed me that a better world is possible, but we need to believe in it first and then align our actions and words with the greater good. I learned that regardless of what happens in life, we can always build a new and brighter future from the ashes.

One particular day when I left the office tired and stressed, I used all my energy to be positive and happy, but still, I kept questioning if I was in any way truly helping. Later, as I was leaving, a child ran after me and thanked me, saying he could not wait to see me again. It reminded me that all selfless acts of help impact the world, no matter how big or small.

As a football fan, this is a particularly exciting year in Doha. The transformation and preparation to welcome the world has been incredible.

The World Cup is an opportunity for the world to get to know the beauty and complexity of Qatar. I hope people will get to know the rich history of the country and the ongoing artistic tradition through the many museums, public arts, and heritage sites.

I am most excited to welcome my family to the World Cup. It is no surprise that my family loves football, as I come from a country that completely pauses everything to watch our national team play. Yet the beauty of football is that we can share the catharsis of the communal experience while creating unique bonds that bring loved ones together.

Growing up, football was part of my daily life. We talked about it during dinner, planned family gatherings around it, and my father even had his team's shirts signed by the players hung in the middle of our family room.

I still remember all the times I went to stadiums when I was a child and the excitement of being part of a crowd. The family holidays visiting stadiums in different cities and countries. Arguing with my siblings on car journeys while guessing the final score.

The most important and beautiful memories I have of football are related to my brother, as for him, the sport is his only passion. He loves football more profoundly than anyone I know. He knew all the countries and all the flags before he could write, thanks to the World Cup.

His room was a shrine to football, as all the walls were painted in the same colors as his team, Cruz Azul. Even his sheets had the football club's logo, and how could I forget about all the players' posters on every corner of the room?

He would spend all his free time playing football in my garden, where my parents hung a blackboard to keep the score. For hours we could hear him narrating his match, where our dog was the goalkeeper, and he was both the player and referee. Even our dog would wear a football shirt!

It will be a special time to be in Doha, a time that blends my professional passion with my love for my family. My brother and father are coming to stay with me, and we will experience the World Cup together. We have tickets to every match Mexico is playing!

I cannot wait to welcome them, and my message to them is the same message I would give to all fans; be open to exploring the country beyond football. There is so much more to it.