Doha: As part of its plans to transform the nation’s landscape into a vast outdoor art museum experience, Qatar Museums, in collaboration with the Supervisory Committee for Beautification of Roads and Public Places in Qatar (Ashghal), has installed several public artworks across the city.
The newly installed public artworks include: Doha Mountains (2022) by Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone, on view along Doha’s Ras Abou Aboud beachfront near Stadium 974, echoes the Olympic Ring colours that encircle the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum; The Doha Modern Playground (2022), a site-responsive playground inspired by a group of six key modernist buildings in Doha, by Shezad Dawood at Al Masrah Park.
Monira Al Qadiri’s Zephyr (2022) is a large-scale recreation of a microscopic organism seen in fossilised marine algae found in the Arabian Peninsula, it is located at West Bay’s North Beach; Here We Hear (2022) is a series of sculptures by Korean artist Suki Seokyeong Kang at Corniche Park.
Brazilian artist Ernesto Neto’s immersive installation Slug Turtle, TemplEarth (2022), which pays homage to the natural environment and creates a space for meditation, reflection and communion between visitors and the spirit of the desert; Al Jassasiya (2022) by Qatari artist Salman Al Malek is an installation inspired by The AlJassasiya site; Toub Toub Ya Bahar (2022) situated at the Corniche waterfront by Qatari artist Salman Al Malek is inspired by an old song from Qatar and the Gulf. It translates to “Oh sea, have mercy on the sailors!”
Standing over 21 metres tall and stretching over 31 metres long, Jeff Koons’s inflatable Dugong (2022) is a mammoth form gliding effortlessly through a marine habitat; a new icon at the Corniche for Doha celebrating Qatar’s natural heritage; Qatar-based Iraqi artist Ahmed Al Bahrani celebrates a Dugong Family in Al Ruwais, highlighting the dugong’s significance as part of Qatar’s history and commitment to protecting the species; Acacia-Tree Seeds (2022) by Qatari Artist Mohammed Al Atiq, symbolises the good and bad nature of human beings and highlights the duality of humanity and art, by depicting the seeds from the Acacia Tree.
And, Milestones (2022) by Qatari artist Shua’a Ali in Grand Hamad Street is inspired by construction debris and location marks (Neshan) found in both urban and desert environments.
Abdulrahman Ahmed Al Ishaq, Qatar Museums’ Director of Public Art said: “It has been an honour to partner with Ashghal to install these incredible artworks by celebrated local, regional and international artists and we thank them for their generous support. Qatar Museums invites residents and visitors to Qatar to experience these pieces, which have transformed Qatar into an outdoor canvas.”
Eng. Mohammad Arqoub Al Khaldi, Chairman of the Supervisory Committee for Beautification of Roads and Public Places in Qatar, said: “Displaying artworks in public places such as parks and beaches is part of the committee’s commitment to increasing the presence of art all around us. We look forward to further expanding the cooperation between the Committee and Qatar Museums in this regard as this plays a big role in highlighting Qatar’s cultural identity to visitors but also benefits the citizens and residents of Qatar.”
Throughout 2022, Qatar Museums has installed more than 40 new and commissioned public artworks across Doha in a variety of public spaces including parks and shopping areas, educational and athletic facilities, Hamad International Airport and Q-Rail stations, as well as select stadiums hosting the World Cup matches.