Mal Lawal: Home Edition

Sumaya Alshebani and her family believe that houses can tell stories. Her idea of collecting revolves around communicating stories through the objects featured within her house. 

Hessa Al Kuwari collects old toys and antique dolls. For her, “the collection began by keeping some old family belongings.”

“About 15 years ago, the collecting journey continued through travels and purchases from the Internet. The pieces varied. They included vases, old phones and pictures. Around 8 years ago, I started collecting old toys and antique dolls too.”

“I collected most of the toys and dolls through auctions, foreign websites and during my travels. Of course, I bought some of the pieces through Qatari groups that specialised in antiques.”

“The collection that I have contains a variety of family objects: European pieces, pieces from Southeast Asia, Arab pieces and some pieces from Qatar. There are also pieces I've received as gifts.”

“Fast forward 20 years later, and here I am collecting sneakers in Doha. A majority of my collection, around 150 pairs, are very valuable, sought-after collectibles, but I still indulge in wearing some of them. They are sneakers after all and are meant to be worn.”

Gavin Casey is fascinated by Clarice Cliff’s ceramic designs. “Clarice Cliff (1899-1972) was one of the most influential ceramic designers of the 20th Century. Her designs took the ordinary and transformed it into the extraordinary.”

“She took art deco motifs and applied them to everyday utilitarian items. Working in Stoke-on-Trent in the United Kingdom in the 1930’s, Cliff is estimated to have produced over 2,000 different patterns from the traditional to the abstract.”

“I have been collecting Clarice for over twenty years now, and I still find new examples of her work around the world.”

Shaikha Albalam collects objects related to childhood from books to toys. “My passion for children and childhood drew me into collecting objects related to children’s stories and novels that show their unlimited imagination, their innocent absurdity, their fictional characters.”

“I love their details, their colors, and their content. I am keen on collecting and acquiring these objects from every corner of the world. I am interested in amazing cars with beautiful colors. I love the small ones and I am keen to collect and keep everything I find.”

“I am fascinated by beautiful dolls, their colorful and frilly clothes and their elegant hairstyles. These objects are exciting, and open up a world of imagination, full of reassurances and innocent amusement.”