Salman Siddiqui/Staff Reporter

The Qatar Museums Authority (QMA) will open the “Relics” exhibition by one of the greatest living contemporary British artists, Damien Hirst, to the public at noon today at the Museum of Islamic Art’s al-Riwaq area.
This is the first time that such a massive collection of the artist’s works are being displayed in the Middle East, containing more than 90 pieces including the 20-foot bronze sculpture The Hymn that is visible from the outside as you pass by the Corniche.
The exhibition held under the patronage of HE Sheikha al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani will remain open until January 22, 2014.
Entry is free and the timings to view them are the same as the normal timings of the Museum of Islamic Art, a QMA official said.
Hirst said that normally, when he took his works to a great distance, he would put in two or three paintings and gauge if people were interested.
However, he said that he was “incredibly lucky” to have managed to bring “everything” to Doha.
“It’s being exhibited in a space that’s never been better. [It’s] an opportunity for local people to come and have a look at it and have a reaction to it,” he told Gulf Times.
Hirst’s “Miraculous Journey”, a group of 14 bronze sculptures, were recently unveiled near the Sidra Medical Research Centre that showed the conception to birth in a mother’s womb.
In the latest offering by the British artist, there is an element of surprise and shock, and of joy and sadness.
The shark series may in particular strike horror among the viewers.
For example, the Leviathan (2006-2013), the artist’s largest formaldehyde work to date, is quite scary and consists of a 6.8m basking shark preserved and contained in a 10m vitrine, weighing a total of 76 tonnes.
His other very popular works, such as the diamond skulls titled For the Love of God (2007) and For Heaven’s Sake (2008), are also on display here.  
There is also an entire selection of works from his “Natural History” series (animals preserved in formaldehyde), spin and spot paintings, medicine cabinets, and butterfly works.
The medicine cabinet series has interesting titles such as Cyanide, Enemy, God, Holidays, Submission, Anarchy, and Boredom.
“Relics” is being displayed as part of Qatar UK 2013 Year of Culture and spans Hirst’s 25-year artistic career.
Hirst said that he hoped that the people of Doha would “enjoy” the exhibition “even if they don’t understand it”.
Earlier, at a press conference yesterday, Jean Paul Engelen, director of public art at the Qatar Museum Authority, said: “With his own artistic language, Damien Hirst changed our perception of contemporary art. There are very few artists in history that have had such a profound impact on high and popular culture. The QMA is extremely proud to make this exhibition with Damien Hirst.”
The exhibition is curated by high-profile writer, critic, and internationally renowned curator Francesco Bonami, who said at the press conference: “What we have achieved with Damien Hirst and the QMA in Doha is sensational, bringing together a myriad of works from private collection shown alongside exciting new works. The show looks and feels special, to be able to show this quality of work in a new region for Hirst is something very unique.”