Culture, Nature and Light: These elements provide the structure for the one-hour documentary film that explores the mind and heart of one of the world’s master architects, Chinese-American I.M. Pei, while chronicling his latest creation; the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, Qatar.

Already in his 90’s, he embarked on another spectacular odyssey, maybe his toughest yet. "Islamic architecture has a desert origin, and therefore it has a certain modesty I don’t want to lose", I.M. Pei says in the film.

Produced by award winning directors Bo Landin and Sterling Van Wagenen the film visits Alhambra and Cordoba in Spain, and Cairo, to search for references to understand the essence of Pei’s architecture that will find its historical place in an Islamic world stretching from Cordoba to Samarkand. The new Museum of Islamic Art has already been dubbed “The Louvre of the Middle East” and after opening its doors to the public in November 2008 it has been baptized an architectural world wonder, exposing one of the world’s most magnificent collections of Islamic art.

Learning from Light

The Vision of I.M. Pei

Culture. Nature. Light.

These elements will provide the structure for a feature documentary film that explores the mind and heart of one of the world’s master architects, and his newest creation; the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, Qatar. In his 92nd year, Chinese-American I.M. Pei brings to its successful conclusion another spectacular odyssey, maybe his toughest yet.

Mr. Pei has described himself as he begins each new project as "an empty vessel." This remarkable humility in the face of enormous creative challenges allows him to balance the often competing demands of form and function and realize a building that is stylistically his own, yet serves as a ‘stage’ for the human being.

"Very frankly, I didn’t feel qualified…my acceptance of the commission was conditional based on my learning something about the history of Islam."

By using Mr. Pei’s sketches, architectural renderings, models, and through interviews with close collaborators, such as the interior architect Jean Michel Wilmotte, the film follows the process of building a museum already dubbed "The Louvre of the Middle East".

"Starting with a square, octagon, octagon, square again, and then a circle. Wonderful! Under the sun, you must have the sun, it’s magnificent."

When opening its doors to the public at a spectacular opening ceremony in November 2008, the museum was immediately dubbed one of the ten most important art venues to visit in the world, exposing one of the most magnificent collections of Islamic art.

"Islamic architecture has a desert origin, and therefore it has a certain modesty I don’t want to lose."
-I. M. Pei

About the film

For three years award winning directors Bo Landin and Sterling Van Wagenen has followed 92 year old IM Pei in his work to complete the museum. Their documentary film tells the story of a man who has transformed architecture around the world. His work with the Louvre in Paris, and the introduction of the glass pyramid that upset some and fascinated many, is just an example of his insightful bravery to cross cultural divides and bridge worlds that has so much to learn from each other.

In this film they visit Alhambra, Cordoba and Cairo to understand the essence of I.M. Pei’s vision that will find its historical place in an Islamic world.

2009 Hamptons International Film Festival, USA

2009 Vancouver International Film Festival, Canada

2009 New Orleans Middle East Film Festival, USA

2010 Palm Springs International Film festival, USA

2010 International Film Festival Rotterdam, Netherlands

2010 Portland International Film Festival, USA

2010 Santa Barbara International Film Festival, USA

2010 International Festival of Films on Art, Canada

2010 Dallas International Film Festival, USA

2010 D.C. Film Festival, USA

2010 Newport Beach Film Festival, USA

2010 DOCAVIV International Film Festival, Israel

2010 Park City Film Music Festival, USA
Won Gold Medal

2010 New Zealand International Film Festival

2010 Festival Artecinema, Italy

"Filmed at age 92 and displaying bountiful energy, Pei views this as his personal project to comprehend the complexities of Islamic art and architecture. That aspect gives the doc some cultural weight during these tense times, making it a certain educational item in fests and tube play.”
Robert Koehler, VARIETY

“Learning from Light: The Vision of I.M. Pei thrilled the audience at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art with a portrait of the great architect I.M. Pei and his process of designing a Museum for Middle Eastern Art in Qatar, a small but wealthy nation in the Persian Gulf.”
Alex Henteloff, CASA MAGAZINE

"This documentary about a genius at work is a pleasure for many reasons, not least of which is that it goes against the normal TV formula of watching a building come together at the last minute against all odds. Pei shares his revelations of the importance of Islamic symbolism to his design, but it is done cinematically with pictures more than dialogue. The lines and the impact of light on the design is stunning. It leaves you inspired by the work and totally charmed by the positive spirit of I.M. Pei.”
Bruce Fessier, THE DESERT SUN

“LEARNING FROM LIGHT is an engaging and informative look at Islamic culture without the politics and explains the culture in a truly “new light”.
Patricia Gavin, DALLAS DAILY NEWS

“Listening to Pei dissect his methodologies and talk about his rather challenging ideas for the museum—for one, he built an island so the structure could be surrounded by water and not have to compete with Doha’s busy downtown—is inspiring itself. And the vivid, gorgeously lit images of Pei’s work makes this doc drool-worthy, not only for architecture enthusiasts but for anyone who can appreciate beauty.”
Tricia Olszewski, WASHINGTON CITY PAPER