10 Outdoor Sculptures at the 2022 World Cup venue – Qatar Transforms Into An Outdoor Art Gallery Ahead Of FIFA World Cup
Before the World Cup, Doha – the capital of the host country Qatar – was turned into an open-air art museum.
Hundreds of art installations, sculptures, and paintings by emerging and established artists from around the world will welcome the one million spectators Qatar Stadium expects at the airport, stadium, beaches, markets, metro stations, hotels, and cultural spaces of the country.
The Public Art Project is designed to give a taste of the city’s global, contemporary art scene. Join us to enjoy 10 outdoor sculptures at the 2022 World Cup venue.
Lamp/Bear
- Author: Urs Fischer
The first sculpture of the top 10 outdoor sculptures at the 2022 World Cup venue is Lamp/Bear. This 7-meter-tall sculpture depicts a yellow bear and a lamp, in the grand foyer of Hamad International Airport. According to SCMP, this is a bold introduction to the city’s Public Art project.
The statue is meant to welcome customers after a long flight to shake off fatigue and have a more elated spirit. Currently, this statue attracts many tourists to check in. You will indeed have memorable virtual photos here. It can be said that this work has not only artistic value but also cultural value.
The Miraculous Journey
- Author: Damien Hirst
The second one of 10 outdoor sculptures at the 2022 World Cup venue is The Miraculous Journey. Located on the grounds of the Sidra Health and Research Center, it is one of the Public Art project’s most controversial pieces of art.
The statue complex has been criticized by conservative Qataris for its depiction of nude figures in 14 bronze sculptures, ranging in height from 5 m to 14 m.
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These statues depict the development of a fetus in the womb. It ends with a sculpture of a 14-meter-tall newborn boy. It can be said that this work has not only artistic value but also cultural value.
Gandhi’s Three Monkeys – 10 outdoor sculptures at the 2022 World Cup venue
- Author: Subodh Gupta
Gupta’s three sculpted heads – a man wearing a gas mask, a soldier, and a man wearing a terrorist hood – deal with the subject of conflict.
The work is located in the village of Katara – the cultural center of Doha, referring to the image metaphor of the late Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi about the three wise monkeys, “seeing no evil, hearing no evil. and speak no evil.”
Egal
- Author Souq Al Mana
Located at Lusail Marina, by the waters of the Persian Gulf, these 5 stainless steel sculptures celebrate Qatar’s history and traditions.
Each sculpture is 3.5-4.5 m high, representing the idyllic. They are inspired by the traditional headbands of Qatari men.
The slight inclination of each structure implies a nod, as a sign of respect and appreciation for the Qataris, who lived after the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Bahrain severed diplomatic and commercial ties with Doha in June 2017. With this beauty, Egal deserves to be in the top 10 outdoor sculptures at the 2022 World Cup venue.
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Sports Ball Galaxy
- Author: Daniel Arsham
This is one of the highlights of the Qatar 3-2-1 Olympic and Sports Museum, located in the Khalifa International Stadium, where eight World Cup matches were played.
The work is a collection of basketballs and footballs made of foamed glass, strung on steel cables attached to the ceiling. All balls are blue and white, giving the appearance of an unfinished work of art, representing the author’s struggle with color blindness.
Sports Ball Galaxy is the most valuable sculpture in the list of top 10 outdoor sculptures at the 2022 World Cup venue.
Bench
- Author: Saloua Raouda Choucair
The bench is also one of the most appreciated works in the list of top 10 outdoor sculptures at the 2022 World Cup venue. Located at the Museum of Islamic Art Park in downtown Doha, this work consists of 17 limestone blocks that form a semicircular seat.
The interconnected rocks draw on the synthetic scientific form, the grain, and the rhythmic, self-sustaining structure of Arabic poetry (Qasa’id) to represent the universal expression of society and citizenship.
The work was carried out from 1969 to 1971, creating a space for community and collective cohesion.
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The Ship – one of the 10 outdoor sculptures at the 2022 World Cup venue
- Author: Faraj Daham
Daham’s wooden and concrete vessel was inspired by 15th-century rock carvings in Jebel Al Jassasiya, an area on the east coast of Qatar.
Replica of rock inscriptions referring to seafaring and trade have been etched into the artwork by the author, highlighting the Persian Gulf as a center of commerce, shipping, fishing, and collection. pearl harvest. If you have a chance, would you like to see this work?
Alfa
- Author: Jean-Michel Othoniel
It would be remiss not to mention Alfa in this Jean-Michel Othoniel list. Alfa is a collection of 114 fountains and stainless steel structures. The museum, which opened in 2019, is inspired by the desert rose. French architects carved from intricate crystal blocks. This is also the famous architectural block of Qatar.
Other Worlds
- Author: Tom Otterness
In the list of 10 outdoor sculptures at the 2022 World Cup venue, this is a work dedicated to children. This children’s playground creation is at the departure terminal at Hamad International Airport.
The playground consists of eight bronze sculptures, created as if they were playing with each other. The limbs of the sculpture serve as slides and seats for children.
Us, Her, Him – 10 outdoor sculptures at the 2022 World Cup venue
Us, Her, Him is a venue-specific public installation that welcomes visitors to the newly opened Flag Plaza.
Najla El Zein (born in 1983, in Beirut) is a Lebanese-French artist and designer whose works explore the relationship between form, usage, space, and emotion through topics related to abstract conceptions of the body, femininity, and human interaction. El Zein has been exhibited at many public institutions around the world. Her Us, Her, Him installation is her first public installation and her most ambitious to date.=
The hand-sculpted limestone installation, spanning 313 meters, is an abstract reflection of human interaction, conveying human connections’ complexity and fundamental importance. Illustrating different modes and classes of interaction such as acquaintance, friendship, love, introversion, confidence, familiarity, flexibility, and hindrance, Us, Her, Him reminds us that collectivity is the true root and driving force of personal fulfillment. The sculptures, functional and interactive, aim to bring women, men, and children together while leading the way into Flags Plaza.
The Public Art program will continue after the World Cup is over, Frame Lawler said: “The works that people see around the city are permanent, with the exception of some works like Jeff Koons’ Dugong or his work. Ernesto Neto’s work in Al Zubarah. That’s what makes popular art an indispensable tool for cultural exchange and dialogue.” Through the top 10 outdoor sculptures at the 2022 World Cup venue, which works are you most impressed with, please share with us.
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