Doha boasts numerous stunning and vibrant public art installations. You may have come across these art installations before, but are you aware of the profound meanings they carry?
From striking sculptures to dynamic murals, discover how the streets of Qatar come alive with creativity, weaving a narrative that connects the community with the rich heritage and contemporary expressions of art.
The ILoveQatar.net (ILQ) team takes you on a visual journey through the open-air galleries that transform public spaces into captivating masterpieces.
This golden falcon, finished with gold, sits on a ledge facing the departures hall of Hamad International Airport. The Falcon also draws inspiration from Arabic calligraphy and the folds found in traditional Qatari attire.
RELATED: Public art installations to check out at Hamad International Airport
Richard Serra's sculpture, made of 7 steel plates and standing at 80 feet tall, pays homage to the spiritual significance of 7 in Islamic culture. It faces the sea in MIA Park and delights spectators amidst the surrounding greenery.
This impressive sculpture depicts two hands joining together to raise the Qatari flag with great strength and determination. It symbolizes the essence of Qatar National Day.
Toub Toub Ya Bahar is a Qatari folk song sung by women who wait for the return of sailors and divers. Salman Al-Malek's piece of art is a homage to the previous generations of Qatari women.
The inflatable Dugong is a 21-meter-tall exhibit, stretching 31 meters long. Qatar has the world's second-largest population of dugongs, and the sculpture celebrates their effortless glide through marine habitats.
Installed in 2011, this large bronze sculpture at the Katara Amphitheatre depicts Mother Nature as a woman hurling the planet in circles.
The Lusail Multipurpose Hall commissioned the artworks in 2015 to celebrate Qatar's Men's Handball World Championships. Ahmed Al Bahrani's The Challenge 2015 is a series of bronze sculptures of larger-than-life hands reaching for the sky.
A polished bronze giant thumb marking in the heart of Souq Waqif, Pouce has become a popular meeting spot in this traditional marketplace. The artist created larger versions of the thumb using traditional techniques, resulting in the motif becoming the artist's most well-known subject.
This three-part sculpture consists of three heads, each composed of cooking instruments, used pails, traditional Indian lunch boxes, and glass bowls. Together, they recall Gandhi's famous metaphor, 'See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.'
This stunning piece of work is a series of 14 bronze sculptures depicting the stages of fetal development, culminating in a 14-meter statue of a baby boy.
Situated within the Qatar National Convention Centre, this breathtaking sculpture portrays a mother carrying her eggs, capturing a moment of fragility.
The Egal is a Qatari headwear worn by men as part of their national attire. It symbolizes their history and traditions and is worn over a square scarf called the ghitra. Created by a Qatari artist, the height of each egal represents different generations affected by the 2017 blockade.
Ugo Rondinone's Doha Mountains are a collection of brightly coloured stacked rocks inspired by natural rock formations and the art of meditative rock balancing.
Have you spotted a bronze life-size horse at Aspire Park? A sculpture of a horse named Perceval is pulling a carriage filled with giant marrows made of cement. The artwork is the only public piece by the artist and pays tribute to British culture.
This installation by German artist Katharina Fritsch's is located at Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel. This striking blue rooster symbolizes pride, power, or prowess.
Located inside the M7 building, this art piece is by German artist Isa Genzken. It is made of enamelled stainless steel, is eight meters high, and is a realistic depiction of a rose.
Milestones represent a part of Qatar's history and are by Qatari artist Shua'a Ali. It is an ode to the pearl diving trade that shaped the early economy in Qatar and how the recent developments have transformed Qatar.
This colourful installation by Salman Al-Malek commemorates the Al Jassasiya Rock Art Site, set in an urban landscape. It signifies the markings left by pearl divers who once resided there.
Turquoise City consists of truncated turquoise tubes, which are stacked to form a spiral structure. This is Mark Handforth's vision of expressing the unfolded beginnings of life.
Qatar's iconic architecture is shown in its miniature forms in this installation by British-Pakistani artist Shezad Dawood. It also doubles up as a space for play for kids. The buildings that inspired the playground are Qatar National Theater & Ministry of Information, Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel, Qatar University, Qatar Post Office, Gulf Hotel, and Dar Al Kutub.
This public art installation by Icelandic-Danish artist Olafur Eliasson is located at north of Al Zubarah. The installation creates an illusion linking the real landscape with the reflected visuals.
This installation was originally executed in 1999 by British artist Martin Creed. It was again newly created and installed for the one-year anniversary of Qatar's blockade outside the Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel.
American artist Tony Smith's Smoke is located outside the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center. This aluminium sculpture combines multiple geometric components and reflects the artist's fascination with geometry and the morphology of organic shapes, like crystals and honeycombs.
Richard Serra's public art installation entitled EAST-WEST/WEST-EAST is located at Brouq Nature Reserve. It is worth the trip as this large-scale sculpture consists of 4 perfectly aligned steel plates which span over a kilometre. You have to see it to believe it!
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Originally written by Khadiza Begum, updated by Rikhia Basu & Vrinda Abilash
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