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Aisha Al-Hardan

Mufateh

Old House Keys from Qatari Homes

This object consists of several old house keys that once opened the doors of family homes in Qatar.

Keys are usually seen as simple tools used every day to lock and unlock, but they can also carry memory and personal meaning. In the past, many homes in Doha were smaller and located in close family-centered neighborhoods. As the city has rapidly grown, many of these houses have been replaced by larger buildings, changing both space and everyday life.

These keys represent more than their basic use: they are connected to daily routines such as leaving and returning home, but also to feelings of belonging and family connection. This relates to the idea of material memory, where objects keep traces of past experiences.

Even though they are small and ordinary, these keys hold both personal memories and shared memories of a time that is slowly fading away.

Aisha Al-Hardan

Art History 2026

This object consists of several old house keys that once opened the doors of family homes in Qatar.

Keys are usually seen as simple tools used every day to lock and unlock, but they can also carry memory and personal meaning. In the past, many homes in Doha were smaller and located in close family-centered neighborhoods. As the city has rapidly grown, many of these houses have been replaced by larger buildings, changing both space and everyday life.

These keys represent more than their basic use: they are connected to daily routines such as leaving and returning home, but also to feelings of belonging and family connection. This relates to the idea of material memory, where objects keep traces of past experiences.

Even though they are small and ordinary, these keys hold both personal memories and shared memories of a time that is slowly fading away.

Tags

Cultural
Visual Culture

Mufateh

Old House Keys from Qatari Homes

Aisha Al-Hardan

Art History 2026

Tags

Cultural
Visual Culture

This object consists of several old house keys that once opened the doors of family homes in Qatar.

Keys are usually seen as simple tools used every day to lock and unlock, but they can also carry memory and personal meaning. In the past, many homes in Doha were smaller and located in close family-centered neighborhoods. As the city has rapidly grown, many of these houses have been replaced by larger buildings, changing both space and everyday life.

These keys represent more than their basic use: they are connected to daily routines such as leaving and returning home, but also to feelings of belonging and family connection. This relates to the idea of material memory, where objects keep traces of past experiences.

Even though they are small and ordinary, these keys hold both personal memories and shared memories of a time that is slowly fading away.

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