If you're looking for something new and different to do this weekend, we've got a few suggestions on this weekend's #QLNow edition, so watch, read and make yourself a plan that sticks.

Although we all have our couch potato days, this may just be enough to get you out of the house at least once this weekend.

Ai Weiwei’s Laundromat Exhibition

Ai Weiwei’s Laundromat is a travelling installation that brings the current European migrant crisis into sharp focus. It is the world renowned artist’s first official exhibition in Qatar.

The work is centered around a vast makeshift camp near the village of Idomeni, on the border with the Republic of Macedonia. As part of his recently released documentary Human Flow, Ai Weiwei has borne witness to the brutal plight of refugees worldwide. Therefore when the Idomeni camp was shut down in May 2016, and the thousands of refugees were displaced, Ai Weiwei and his team reverently collected, washed and organized the possessions they haphazardly left behind in an effort to preserve their tumultuous experience.

Meticulously organized, the thousands of clothing items and accessories together with photographs and video are a moving and tactile testament to this international humanitarian emergency.

Working in a wide range of media from architecture to social media, Ai Weiwei is renowned for elevating art practice into a call for action on major geopolitical issues impacting global communities.

This exhibition focuses on the global refugee crisis and presents several efforts made by the artist to highlight the plight of the refugees, inspired by the journey @aiweiwei took to 40 refugee camps across 23 countries while filming his documentary feature Human Flow.

Where: Fire Station: Artist in Residence

Timings: 8:00 am - 11:00 pm

Runs till: June 1st

For more info on current exhibitions, check out our article on 8 art exhibitions to visit in Doha.

Dahl Al Hammam Park's "Streets of Doha" Maze

The new "Streets of Doha" Maze at Dahl Al Hammam Park is a public installation for families to experience the feel of old Doha streets. Admission is free.

The maze will be available to the public for the next two months. The British Council, in cooperation with the Ministry of Municipality and Environment's Public Parks Department, opened the installation earlier on Monday.

According to Qatar Tribune, the maze represents the streets of old Doha and examines the changing culture on how public spaces are used. It aims to allow children the experience of how it was when streets were playgrounds.

The maze also features a selection of traditional Qatari games. Children can create their own collages of Doha’s modern streets, and can design their dream spaces.

The Streets of Doha Maze will also host a special family activity every Friday from 4:00 pm – 8:00pm.

Where: Dahl Al Hammam Park
Timings: 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Runs till: May 26th

Katara's screening of When I Saw You 

When I Saw You is a 2012 Palestinian drama film by Annemarie Jacir. It tells the story of a boy, Tarek, and his mother, Ghaydaa, as they cross the border from Palestine to Jordan along with tens of thousands of other people.

The film was selected as the Palestinian entry for the Best Foreign Language Oscar at the 85th Academy Awards, and won Best Asian Film at the 63rd Berlin International Film Festival, NETPAC award.

Where: Building 5, Katara Art Centre

When: March 31st, 6:00 pm onwards

Click here to learn more.

Image credits:

Inline image 1 - Doha Fire Station, 2 - British Council Qatar.