Discover Qatar, Hamad International Airport (HIA) and Qatar Museums have recently debuted a one-of-kind collaboration for passengers travelling via HIA.
Dubbed as ‘Discover the Art of the Airport’, the offer is a unique walking tour through an immersive experience where guests can view impressive sculptures and art installations by leading artists from around the world.
Under the patronage of Qatar Museums Chairperson, HE Sheikha Al Mayassa Bint Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, remarkable artworks by local and international artists have been placed throughout HIA. Artworks curated by the Qatar Museums Public Art Department can be seen in different parts of HIA, encouraging dialogue and public interaction, and adding character and personality to the airport’s open spaces.
Some of the famous artworks that can be found in the HIA include
- Other Worlds by American artist Tom Otterness
- Small Lie by American artist KAWS
- Cosmos by French artist Jean-Michel Othoniel
- A Message of Peace to the World by Iraqi artist Ahmed Al Bahrani
- Lamp Bear by Swiss artist Urs Fischer
These are just a few of the permanent installations at HIA that inspire passengers to communicate in the universal language of art, transcending linguistic barriers and forming connections between people from different continents while turning travel into an exciting art experience.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive HE Akbar Al Baker said that the new world-class art experience is another way to elevate the passenger experience at HIA. He said that the various art installations illustrate their vision to make culture and art in Qatar accessible to everyone.
With millions of art enthusiasts travelling through the World’s Best Airport, we hope that this tour will further enhance their transit experience and offer one more reason to look forward to travelling with Qatar Airways.
According to Qatar Museums CEO Ahmad Musa Al-Namla, the tour is part of Qatar Museums’ ambitious public art programme to transform Qatar’s urban and transit spaces into a vast and accessible art museum. The programme will feature more than 100 artworks in the lead-up to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.
Qatar became one of the first Gulf countries to establish a comprehensive contemporary public art programme, spearheaded by Qatar Museums, with the goal of making art a part of everyday life. To date, the programme has included approximately 70 works by more than 60 artists from Qatar, the Middle East and around the world. More than 40 new public artworks will be installed in Qatar ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ to benefit the local community and visitors.
The Discover the Art of the Airport hour-long guided tour at HIA costs USD10 per person. Guests will learn about the story of each artwork while being escorted by a Discover Qatar expert guide. Tour participants should have at least two hours of transit time at the airport and arrive at the Discover Qatar desk 30 minutes before their scheduled tour.
For more information and to book the tour, visit discoverqatar.qa.
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