Milestones by Shua’a Ali (b. 1974) is a conceptual representation of an important period in the economic history of Qatar. It symbolizes the financial system, which has evolved from being singularly defined by pearl diving to an economy consisting of various modern industries. Each element that forms Milestone relates to these histories. The ropes wrapped around the sculptures twice represent the 2-month dive; and the ones wrapped around the sculpture 4 times represent the 40-day dive. The gold stone represents wealth and prosperity; indicative of the transformation of Grand Hamad Street into the financial district and gold souq.
Ali’s work highlights the accelerating developments Qatar has experienced in the past five decades.
