Saqr (Falcon)

An artist, art collector and a patron of Arab art, Sheikh Hassan bin Mohammed bin Ali Al Thani uses falcon feathers to create this marvelous and fashionable artwork. The falcon is a symbol of pride, power and nobility in the Arab world, and Al Thani utilises its feathers to pay homage to the traditional sport of falconry still practiced today.

In Saqr, Al Thani presents a distinctive design for the thob al nashil, a traditional garment worn by Qatari women. By incorporating falcon feathers into the fabric of the work, Al Thani references wealth, elevation and strength. His fascination with abstraction and Hurrufiya (a modern approach to the use of Arabic letters in art) is present here as he interweaves black and white feathers to create the word ‘Qatar’ in Arabic, elegantly wrapping around both sides of the dress.

This work was showcased during a fashion show at the opening ceremony of the Asian Games in Doha in 2006, seamlessly combining tradition and modernity. The dress’s impact was heightened in an iconic moment in 2008 when Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser graced the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha wearing Saqr.