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Posted On: 3 February 2019 11:46 am
Updated On: 6 September 2022 03:03 pm

Thumb monument installed in Souq Waqif

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Qatar daily The Peninsula reported that Qatar Museums (QM) has installed a new public art piece by acclaimed French artist César Baldaccini at the heart of Souq Waqif to mark the biggest sporting success in Qatar’s history.

Le Pouce, in the shape of a giant thumb as it translates directly to English as 'The Thumb', is one of its creator’s best-known pieces and a popular example of his tendency to create larger than life experiences. The art installation becomes the latest addition to Qatar’s extensive public art collection, which aims to connect audiences living in and visiting Qatar with inspiring works of art through unexpected interactions in daily life.

QM chose Souq Waqif as the site for Le Pouce to combine this historic heart of the city with a piece of modern history, linking the traditional with the contemporary. Within the Souq, the exact location of the piece, in the courtyard next to the police station, helps emphasise the scale of the work in relation to the surrounding buildings and the juxtaposition of the sculpture on the streetscape of cafes.

At night, the highly polished bronze patina of the sculpture will complement the glow of street lighting in Souq Waqif, while the work will be visible from numerous angles during the day. As such, Le Pouce will become an important marker and a familiar spot for visitors to the Souq. It will also become a popular landmark for tourists and visitors and a new stop within public art tours that reflect upon both the art and the diverse public spaces of the city.

To know more about Qatar Museums, check out their website and social media links below!

About Qatar Museums

Website: https://www.qm.org.qa/en
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Qatar...
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/qata...
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/Qatar_Muse...

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(Images courtesy of Gulf Times' Facebook fan page)