A little over 110km from Doha, the wind-swept desert not that far from Al Zubarah, Qatar’s largest heritage site, recently became home to Icelandic–Danish artist Olafur Eliasson’s a site-specific installation that explores the relationship between human perception and the natural world.
The installation, ‘Shadows Travelling on the Sea of the Day’, was unveiled before the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 kicked off, as part of one of the world’s most ambitious public art programmes by Qatar Museums (QM) and its Chairperson HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani.
The 20 circular shelters, three single rings and two double rings that make up this site-specific artwork appear at first glance to be scattered about the desert landscape at random. They are, however, positioned according to the axes of a five-fold symmetrical pattern, with the 10 shelters at the centre forming a pentagram.
The underside of the circular roofs is covered with mirror panels, reflecting the curved segment of pipe that supports the roof. This creates a visual illusion of the pipes doubling into full rings, linking the real landscape with the reflected space. Visitors standing in the shade of the roofs may experience a moment of disorientation, glimpsing themselves and their surroundings reflected upside down in the roofs above.
It is a mesmerising experience to witness the sun go down behind the art installation, especially if you catch the molten golden disc strategically between the intersection of one of the double rings. The fading warmth of the sun is inspiring the cold wind to do an impromptu gig. The shelter of the vehicle is 10 minutes away. But, an awesome feeling of tranquillity envelops you, as the bluish grey horizon spreads out the perfect backdrop.
PICTURES: Gulf Times news editor Bonnie James
Qatar
Where desert meets art
The detour from Al Zubarah-Al Shamal coastal road is a jolt to begin with, the kind you feel when good road is abruptly replaced with a rocky, desert track which slows the journey down to a crawl. The rough ride beside a perimeter fence, is over in less than 10 minutes...what a relief. In through the open gate, the newly prepared, smooth mud path takes you to the small but well laid out parking area. Reverse park for ease of departure and jump out to the blast of a howling cold wind that pushes you back. The open-air art installation looks as if a stone’s throw away, but when you try hurrying over the loose stones, the reality sinks in - that it is at least a good 10-minute walk
