Iconic Dugong Sculpture Bids Farewell To Doha

6/30/2024 2:06:30 PM

(MENAFN- Gulf Times) After an 18-month stay, the monumental Dugong sculpture by renowned American artist Jeff Koons is saying goodbye at Al Masrah Park, Qatar Museums (QM) announced as the dismantling process begins.
The sculpture, which became a beloved landmark, was originally commissioned for six months during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, but its popularity led to a one-year extension.
QM posted on its social media pages said that it is“thankful to Jeff Koons and his team for creating such a magnificent work that became an iconic part of our city during this key moment in our history”.
The 21m high and 31m wide polychromed mirror-polished stainless-steel sculpture depicted the dugong, a marine mammal that has long inhabited the waters surrounding Qatar's peninsula. It was one of more than 40 commissioned sculptures by renowned Qatari, regional, and international artists installed across the country ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
This initiative, launched in 2022 to commemorate the tournament, was part of Qatar Creates, the year-round national cultural movement dedicated to curating, promoting, and celebrating the diverse cultural activities in the country.
Koons' Dugong, alongside numerous other public art installations, has transformed Qatar's public spaces into a vast outdoor art museum. Other notable masterpieces include“Doha Mountains” by Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone, located at Doha's Ras Abou Aboud beachfront near 974 Stadium; Kuwaiti artist Monira al-Qadiri's“Zephyr” at West Bay's North Beach; Iraqi artist Adel Abidin's light installation“They Asked Me to Change It, and I Agreed” at Mathaf; Arab Museum of Modern Art; and Qatari artist Shouq al-Mana's“Egal”, installed along the Lusail Marina Promenade, among others.
The numerous public art installations across the country, including the murals at the Old Doha Port, continue to enrich the landscape of Qatar, inviting residents and visitors to appreciate the beauty and diversity of artistic expression.

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