Martin Creed’s 1361
Martin Creed’s 1361 (2019–2021) is a striking neon installation measuring 170 by 4950 cm, now located in Sheraton Hall. Originally created in 1999 for a temporary commission in Hackney, the piece gained new significance when installed on the façade of QM Gallery Al Riwaq during Qatar’s blockade.
With its bold presence in the urban landscape, 1361 delivers a moment of reflection and reassurance to passersby, embodying Creed’s signature post-conceptualist style. Widely regarded as one of the great works of late 20th-century conceptual art, it continues to inspire and provoke thought in its new setting.
Martin Creed (b. 1968, United Kingdom), 1361, 2019, Neon, 170 x 4950 cm, Sheraton Hall | photo © Iwan Baan, courtesy of Qatar Museums
Isa Genzken’s Rose
Rose III by Isa Genzken is an eight-metre-high sculpture of a single long-stemmed rose in cast aluminum and galvanized steel, located in the atrium of M7. Based on an actual rose picked by the artist, it was scanned in 3D and reproduced on a monumental scale. Genzken first created her Rose sculpture in the early 1990s, and it has since become one of her most iconic works.
Rose III, Isa Genzken, 2016 | image courtesy of Qatar Museums
Richard Serra’s East-West/West-East
Nestled within a natural corridor shaped by gypsum plateaus, Richard Serra’s East-West/West-East stretches over a kilometer in length, traversing the Brouq Nature Reserve and connecting the Gulf’s waters. Unveiled in 2014, the installation features four towering steel plates, ranging in height from 14.7 to 16.7 meters, aligned precisely with each other and the surrounding gypsum plateaus. Despite the expansive distance between them, all four plates remain visible and accessible from either end of the sculpture. Created by world-renowned artist Richard Serra, East-West/West-East marks his second public piece in the Middle East, following 7, installed at MIA Park in 2011.
Richard Serra (b. 1938, United States) 7 (detail), 2011 Steel, 24.6 metres MIA Park | photo © Iwan Baan courtesy of Qatar Museums
Damien Hirst’s The Miraculous Journey
Created by Damien Hirst in 2013, The Miraculous Journey is a powerful series of fourteen monumental bronze sculptures, ranging from 4 to 11 meters in height. Installed at the Sidra Medical Centre, a hospital dedicated to women and children, the artwork visually narrates the journey of human gestation—from conception to birth.
This thought-provoking installation forms a compelling dialogue with its location, celebrating the wonders of life while resonating with the hospital’s mission. As one of Hirst’s most audacious commissions, The Miraculous Journey has sparked conversations both locally and globally, ensuring its place as a catalyst for debate and reflection for years to come.
Damien Hirst (b. 1965, United Kingdom), The Miraculous Journey, 2013, Bronze, 4 to 11 metres in height, Sidra Medical Centre | photo © Iwan Baan courtesy of Qatar Museums
Katharina Fritsch’s Hahn
Katharina Fritsch’s Hahn (2013) is a striking ultramarine-blue sculpture of a domestic cockerel, displayed at the Sheraton Hotel. Standing 4.72 meters tall, the piece was modeled after a taxidermy rooster, digitally scanned and enlarged to monumental proportions.
Fritsch’s work often begins with archetypal forms, which she transforms through dramatic shifts in scale and color. With its bold presence, the blue cockerel embodies the ethereal, immaterial quality characteristic of her art, turning an everyday subject into a powerful and surreal statement.
Katharina Fritsch (b. 1956, Germany), Hahn, 2013, Glass-fibre reinforced polyester resin fixed on a stainless-steel supporting structure, 440 × 440 × 150 cm, Sheraton Hotel, Katara Hospitality, Photo © Iwan Baan, courtesy of Qatar Museums
Louise Bourgeois’ Maman
Crafted from marble, bronze, and stainless steel, Maman stands an imposing 9.1 meters tall at the Qatar National Convention Centre, within Qatar Foundation. While abstract in form, Louise Bourgeois’ work is deeply autobiographical, exploring themes of betrayal, anxiety, and loneliness. This iconic steel spider, one of Bourgeois’ most celebrated creations, serves as a poignant tribute to her mother, a weaver in France, whose meticulous artistry and strength inspired the sculpture’s towering presence.
