Hamad International Airport (HIA) has been nominated once again to compete for the Skytrax Award for Best Airport in the World 2022. It won the title last year.
Did you know that this beautiful airport also houses a number of art pieces that have been installed over the years? Let’s take a look at these unique art installations (in alphabetical order) by world-renowned artists and learn more about them.
Be sure to check them out on your way out of Qatar or when you are there!
A Message of Peace to the World is by Iraqi artist Ahmed Al Bahrani and represents the logo of ROTA (Reach Out to Asia), a Qatari non-profit organization that supports education in Asia. It can be found at the Passenger Train's South Node station.
You will spot this art installation at the check-in hall at the airport. This completely white-coloured piece is put together using a number of bronze sculptures that represent hybrid plants and vegetation.
COSMOS is by the French artist Jean-Michel Othoneil. It depicts a series of spheres interlinked to represent the different travellers from around the globe. This piece will capture your attention at first glance. It is located near Departures Concourses D & F.
This art sculpture was created by Qatari artist Ali Hassan. This represents the Arabian horse in the form of calligraphy. This art piece is located outside the Arrivals Meet and Greet Hall, Gate 3.
Known as the Falcon, this is installed at the ledge of the departure entrance to the airport. The sculpture’s vivid curves represent the aviation routes from Qatar to the rest of the world. The Falcon also draws inspiration from Arabic calligraphy and the folds found in traditional Qatari attire.
This is probably the most recognizable art piece at HIA. This yellow bear by Swiss artist Urs Fischer welcomes people departing from the airport and you will see a number of people taking selfies with it. It is located right after immigration and security. Weighing nearly 20 tonnes and 23 ft in height, The Lamp bear stands as a reminder of one's childhood or precious objects from home.
By Algerian artist Adel Abdessemed, Mappemondes is made using tin cans found in the markets of Dakar and it represents the map of the world. It is at the Departures Concourse A and depicts the consequences of the throwaway culture of today’s world.
Located at the arrivals hall, Oryx is another art installation by the Dutch artist Tom Claassen. It is a series of sculptures of the Oryx, which is a native animal of the Arabian Gulf and is also the national animal of Qatar.
You will find a number of interactive bronze sculptures by American sculptor Tom Otterness at Departures Concourse C. This is a great installation for children and adults to play and interact with the sculptures.
Located at Departures Concourse E, Small Lie by KAWS is a gigantic sculpture standing over 30 feet tall. It was made in collaboration with Qatar Museums. SMALL LIE makes the viewer feel small but also wants to protect and console it. It plays with the emotions of strength and kindness. Have you spotted this larger-than-life figure at HIA yet?
The Flying Man is by Iraqi artist Dia al-Azzawi and was produced in collaboration with the Fonderia Artistica De Carli in Turin. It consists of two aluminium towers that are topped by two figures. These have been installed at the HIA passenger terminal.
This art installation is by the Italian artist Rudolf Stingel. The artist covered three surfaces with reflective, aluminium panels, and invited members of the construction team at HIA to draw on the soft walls at the time of the airport’s construction. “The walls were then cast in copper and electroplated with gold before a number of pieces were selected for permanent display at HIA”. You can find this at the Arrivals Meet and Greet Hall.
Source: Hamad International Airport (HIA)
How many of these art installations have you checked out at HIA? Do let us know in the comments below - do share this article - it keeps us going!
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