DOHA: Qatar Museums (QM) and Hamad International Airport (HIA) have unveiled two new public art installations by international artists at the airport.
The permanent pieces include ‘Arctic Nurseries of El Dorado’ by British artist Marc Quinn, and ‘Untitled’ by Italian artist Rudolf Stingel.
An unconventional sculpture of the iconic desert horse by acclaimed Qatari artist Ali Hassan will be installed in the first quarter of this year — his third piece to go on show at the airport. The new pieces will join the growing collection of sculptures and images by Qatari and international artists at the airport, including works by Qatari artists Amal Al Raban, Ali Hassan, Mubarak Al Malik and Salman Al Malik, in the Oryx and Al Maha lounges. More artworks are planned for installation at the airport in the coming weeks and months.
Mansoor bin Ebrahim Al Mahmoud, Acting CEO, QM, said: “QM continues to place art by local, regional and international artists in prominent public spaces throughout Qatar. “The art at HIA inspires millions of visitors, residents and transfer passengers who fly through the airport each year, and it proves that art can be enjoyed far beyond the confines of an art gallery. The newest works signify the latest chapter in our vision at QM to continue to bring world-class art to our people.”
Engineer Badr Mohammed Al Meer, Chief Operating Officer, HIA, said: “HIA prides itself for being an innovative exhibition space. Art is an integral part of HIA, having been designed to house permanent and temporary exhibitions. Passengers are exposed to a diverse set of artistic media, including paintings, sculpture, electronic and interactive installations.
“Our terminal is a public space that welcomes millions of people every year and is an ideal space to interact with art. The exposure that such a venue gives artists, especially budding Qatari artists, is exceptional.”
‘The Nurseries of El Dorado’ is a representation of an almost mythical world. Comprising bronze sculptures, Quinn creates a series of hybrid plants by taking elements from different vegetation and piecing them together, before casting them in bronze.
Stingel’s work reflects on the passage of time. His artwork at HIA is a sample of one of his famous large-scale interactive pieces. He covered three surfaces with reflective, aluminium-faced insulation panels, before inviting members of the construction team at HIA to draw on the soft walls at the time of the airport’s construction. The walls were cast in copper and electroplated with gold, before pieces were selected for permanent display. Ali Hassan’s 8m x 6m sculpture at HIA will be an unconventional interpretation of the iconic desert horse, represented by various forms of the Arabic letter ‘?’ (‘n’).
The Peninsula
