ART AS EDUCATION

Qatar’s Education City is a trove of magical artworks that make a gallery of the public spaces for anyone to enjoy. Qatar Foundation (QF) curates the pieces and we caught up with spokesperson Ameera Al Aji, QF Community Arts Lead, to learn about the selection process and some of the most popular pieces.

How do you choose the pieces that will be commissioned?
Education City is home to a stellar art scene. The portfolio, which is comprised of more than 150 artworks, has been carefully selected and is exhibited in various locations, ranging from Sidra Outpatient Clinic to Qatar National Library. The aspect of each piece has been carefully considered from its concept to its strategic positioning within our campus.
The artwork on display showcases a diverse representation from renowned local, regional and international artists.
From temporary exhibitions to permanent collections, Qatar Foundation offers guided public tours of the artworks through our art trail initiative.

What is the aim of Qatar Foundation in making these amazing art pieces available publicly?
Art can function as a bridge between communities. Qatar Foundation believes in the value of education and how art can be used as a tool to spark dialogue and allow our audiences to learn something new through fostering engagement. Art can transcend elements of national history and highlight culture and heritage in a way that can resonate with our visitors while allowing them to have different perspectives on how the piece speaks to them.
Through a multidisciplinary educational approach, art is rooted in our specialised school curriculums and our unique art programmes offered in our partner universities. We have received dozens of school students from around the country through our guided tours where we have been able to see the power of public art and its positive influence on the leaders of tomorrow.

Are there plans for any future pieces you can share with us?
There are a lot of upcoming projects in the pipeline. We recommend our audiences to follow us on our social media page @qfarttrail to know more about our upcoming tours and new art pieces in Education City.

Which pieces are the most popular among visitors?
We have a lot of remarkable pieces around Education City. One of the most popular would be Seeroo fi al Ardh which is the final work from the late artist M.F. Husain. The art installation highlights the progress of humanity on land, in the air and at sea, and its inclination to utilise the surrounding resources to achieve its goals.
The second one is Come Together which is a piece created by Korean artist Choi Jeong Hwa. The artwork reflects the artist’s internationally acclaimed style using materials from culture and everyday life. With its shape representing a dandelion, the stainless-steel installation is made up of workers’ helmets, mirror balls, and recycled traditional Qatari kitchenware.
Other popular pieces include Maman by Louise Bourgeois, Taha Al Hiti and Miraculous Journey by Damien Hurst.

Maman
Louise Bourgeois

Maman

French-American artist Louise Bourgeois’ work is autobiographical and often explores themes of her childhood and deep human emotions. The title Maman in French translates to ‘Mummy’ and is an ode from Bourgeois to her mother. Bourgeois attributed all the positives of a spider such as clever, protective and helpful to her mother. Like a spider that weaves, her mother worked as a weaver in her father’s textile workshop in France. Maman is one of the artist’s most recognised works and is a nine-metre-tall bronze, marble and stainless-steel spider. The spider includes a sac containing marble eggs like an expectant mother. Additional versions of Maman can be found in various locations around the world. This piece is on loan from Qatar Museums.

Arabic calligraphy – Quranic verses
Taha Al Hiti

Taha Al Hiti

The calligraphy design for the Education City Mosque, Minaretein, was influenced by the architectural language of the building: Qatar’s contemporary Islamic identity. The calligraphy was designed using classic Arabic calligraphy types in the Abbasi/Ottoman school of calligraphy. Ijaza and Thuluth styles were used predominantly with some exaggerated stretches to give a modern feel to some letters. This is done very carefully to ensure that the verses remain readable in the correct sequence and that they are easy to follow. This direction not only emphasises the shift towards the modern while still respecting tradition, but it also allows for more meaningful interactions between people and the building.

The Miraculous Journey
Damien Hirst

The Miraculous Journey

Damien Hirst is British conceptual artist best known for exploring life, rebirth, mortality and beauty through his work. The Miraculous Journey is a series of 14 monumental bronze sculptures that chronicles the gestation of a foetus inside a uterus from conception to birth. Located in front of Sidra Medicine, a women’s and children’s hospital, the sculptures encapsulate the very beginning of life. This piece is on loan from Qatar Museums. ✤