In collaboration with Hamad International Airport (HIA), Qatar Museums has placed art objects created by local, regional and international artists throughout the airport.
The art displayed at Hamad International Airport makes a big impression. It seeks to inspire the millions of visitors and residents flying through the airport and prove that art can be enjoyed far beyond the confines of a gallery.
The art inspires millions of visitors and residents every year and proves that art can be enjoyed far beyond the confines of a gallery.
Local and regional artists display their public art around the airport. Qatari artist Ali Hassan has produced an iconic Desert Horse sculpture fusing classical techniques with abstraction, which is positioned just outside of the airport building. Ahmed Al Bahrani, an Iraqi artist based in Qatar, displays A Message of Peace to the World, in collaboration with Reach Out To Asia.
The large-scale cube represents a formula designed to highlight how investment in economic security and education equates to the well-being of children. London-based Iraqi artist Dia Al Azzawi, who had a retrospective of his work with Qatar Museums, sculpted the Flying Man. The sculptures are based on the story of Abu Firnas, a historical figure from the Islamic world who was an early pioneer in experimenting with flight. Through these sculptures, Al Azzawi creates a monument to celebrate travelling in the modern age.
Other local and regional artists whose art is showcased around the airport include Mohammed Aljaida, Amal Al Raban, Salman Al Malik, Mubarak Al Malik, Amal Alatham and Yousif.
Artists from all around the world are also showcasing their work within the airport. French artist Jean-Michel Othoniel displays COSMOS, a large and intricate globe installation that symbolises the path of travelers around the world taking inspiration from the oldest Islamic astrolabe that can be found in the Museum of Islamic Art’s collection.
Tom Claassen of the Netherlands has produced a larger than life sculpture of a falcon just outside the airport's departures hall, as well as a series of sculptures of the oryx, which appear in herd formation in the arrivals hall.
American sculptor Tom Otterness transforms public art into Other Worlds through playgrounds for children to discover and play. His style is often described as cartoonish and cheerful, and his pieces here are accompanied by miniature Arab figures.
Other featured international artists include KAWS, Adel Abdessemed, Maurizio Cattelan, Don Gummer, Keith Haring, Damien Hirst, Jenny Holzer, Marc Quinn, Anselm Reyle, Rudolf Stingel and Bill Viola.
Lamp Bear by Swiss artist Urs Fischer takes centre stage in the middle of the terminal, surrounded by Doha’s comprehensive range of duty-free stores. It is a 23-foot canary yellow teddy bear sculpted from bronze, that sits peacefully inside a lamp. A playful piece that humanises the space around it and reminds travellers of childhood or precious objects from home - it has become a bonafide Doha landmark.
Contemporary Qatar
Museums and Galleries
