Doha: Qatar’s public artworks have become a symbol of cultural richness and diversity as well as the state’s openness to different cultures of the world.

The visitor can feel this clearly through these works designed by international artists from diverse cultural backgrounds, locally or from Asia, Africa, Europe, and America.

These artworks tell the story of Qatar’s openness to its regional and global surroundings. This includes the “7” sculpture by Richard Serra in the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) park on the seafront.

It stands 80 feet tall, the highest artwork he has ever executed. It was built from seven iron plates arranged in a heptagonal shape to reflect the scientific and spiritual importance of the number seven. It took three years to create and was unveiled at a ceremony in December 2011.

Serra’s sculpture also has a strong relationship with Islamic culture thus connecting its meaning with the theme of the MIA. The symbolism of the number appears in many religious and historical contexts and is m
entioned many times in the Holy Qur’an.

The artist was also inspired by minarets dating back to the 7th century especially one of the mosques in Afghanistan.

The late Serra was commissioned by Qatar Museums (QM) to create the sculpture based on personal recommendations from the late renowned architect I.M. Pei who designed the MIA.

“It is my hope that the sculpture will provide both a public place and a private space for people to gather and experience the narrow, vertical, open column in relation to themselves, the MIA, the city of Doha, the surrounding sea, and the sky as seen through the opening at the top of the sculpture,” said Serra at that time.

Source: Qatar News Agency