Interesting facts about some iconic statues of Qatar
A perfect statue can be stared at for ages and be contemplated upon for long hours. Qatar has a rich group of statues dotting across it, and most of the times we casually pass them by, not realizing how special they are.
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Posted by Qatar Living on Wednesday, 6 April 2016
Here’s a list of statues in Qatar that have more to them than what meets the eye.
1-The Woman swinging the Earth around in Katara.
(Pic by Sarfraz Abbasi)
Called as the “Force of Nature 2”, this statue was created by the Italian sculptor Lorenzo Quinn. The “woman” in the statue is none other than “Mother Nature”.
This 8.2 foot tall sculpture is made of bronze, iron and stainless steel. Similar statues to the Katara one can be seen in Berkley Square and Mayfair, England.
2- The huge teddy bear with its head stuck inside a table lamp at the HIA.
(Pic courtesy:HIA)
Created by Urs Fischer, a US based Swiss artist, this teddy is the largest of the 3 editions that were created.
While two of them are privately owned, this was bought by a member of the Qatari Royal family for around QR 2 million. The teddy was previously exhibited in front of the Seagram building in New York’s Park Avenue after which it was moved to its new home at the HIA.
3- A group of statues of fetus in various stages of birth at Sidra Medical and Research Center.
(Pic source: www.ncregister.com)
These 14 statues depict different stages from conception to birth including a sperm fertilizing an egg, a fetus, a twin etc. were designed by the British artist Damien Hirst.
Specially designed for Qatar, the statues were commissioned by Sheikha Al-Mayessa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani.
Although the Medical and Research Center, Sidra, has not still opened, the statues brought a great deal of fame to it.
4- Coup de Tête (Head butt statue)
(Pic by Karim Jaafer)
This famous and controversial statue that displays the moment when the French football player, Zinedine Zidaine head-butted Marco Materazzi in the 2006 World Cup was designed by the Algerian artist Adel Abdessemed.
Although the statue was exhibited in the Doha Corniche, it was removed after a few days due to many outcries and protests by Islamic leaders stating that it’s against the religion.
However, the statue has now been moved to Mathaf, Museum of Modern Arab Art near the Education City.
5- The giant hands reaching for the sky statues outside the Lusail Multi-purpose hall.
(Pic by Navin Sam)
These pieces that were created by Iraqi artist Ahmad Al-Bahrani mark the 24th Men’s Handball Championship in Doha.
These gigantic hands stretch out to the sky and were created within a period of five months. It has been named as “The Challenge 2015” and is definitely very eye catching.
6- Orry the Oryx.
(Pic by Alex Sergeev)
This is a statue of an Oryx bearing a torch which stands proudly at the Doha Corniche. The statue was created to mark the 2006 Qatar Asian Games event.
Orry was the mascot of the event and the symbol of the first ever sporting event that Doha has hosted.
7- The enormous spider at the Qatar National Conventional Center.
(Pic by isapisa)
This 30-foot-tall bronze spider was created by American artist, Louise Bourgeois. The spider which is named as "Maman" is created in memory of the artist's mother who was a weaver.
Which is your favourite out of these? Have you come across any other statue in Qatar that made an impression on you? Do let us know in the comments below.
EDIT:
Check out five of Doha's most iconic buildings
Brit ....... It was happening & is happening Now, .............. look beyound Gulf ..........
Brit ....... It was happening & is happening Now, .............. look beyound Gulf ..........
That was then. Because people were treating them as gods.
I don't think it applies now
1. ‘Abd-Allah ibn Mas’ood said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say: The people who will be the most severely punished before Allah on the Day of Resurrection will be the image makers. (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5606; Muslim, 2109).
2. Sa’eed ibn Abi’l-Hasan said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say. I heard him say: “Whoever makes an image, Allah will punish him until he breathes life into it, and he will never be able to do that.” The man became very upset and his face turned pale, so [Ibn ‘Abbaas] said to him, Woe to you! If you insist on making images, then make images of these trees and everything that does not have a soul. (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 2112; Muslim, 2110).
3. It was reported from ‘Aa’ishah Umm al-Mu’mineen that Umm Habeebah and Umm Salamah mentioned a church which they had seen in Ethiopia, in which there were images. They told the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) about it, and he said: “Those people, if there was a righteous man among them and he died, they would build a place of worship over his grave and put images in it. These will be the most evil of creation before Allah on the Day of Resurrection.” (narrated by al-Bukhaari, 417; Muslim, 528)
Al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar said: This hadeeth indicates that making images is haraam. (Fath al-Baari, 1/525).
4. Al-Nawawi said: Making images of animate beings is extremely haraam and is a major sin, because severe warnings have been issued against it in the ahaadeeth. Whether the image is made to be used in a disrespectful fashion or for other purposes, it is haraam to make it in all cases, because it implies that one is trying to match the creation of Allah, whether the image is to appear on a garment, carpet, coin, vessel, wall or whatever. With regard to pictures of trees, camel saddles, and other pictures in which no animate beings appear, these are not haraam. This is the ruling on making images. (Sharh Muslim, 14/81).
5. It was reported that Abu Hurayrah entered a house in Madeenah and saw somebody making images in it. He said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say: [Allah says:] Who does greater wrong than one who goes and creates something like My creation? Let them create a seed or a small ant! (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5609; Muslim, 2111).
Al-Nawawi said: Concerning the words of Allah. “Let them create a small ant or a seed or a grain of barley!” means, let them create a small ant which has a soul and moves by itself, like this small ant which was created by Allah. Or let them create a grain of wheat or barley, i.e., let them create a grain which is eaten as food or which can be planted so it will grow and which has the characteristics of a grain of wheat or barley or other seeds which were created by Allah. This is impossible, as stated above. (Sharh Muslim, 14/90). None can bring forth living vegetation out of nothing except Allah, may He be glorified.
6. Abu Juhayfah said: the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) forbade the price of a dog and the price of blood, and he forbade tattooing and asking to be tattooed, and the consumption or paying of ribaa, and he cursed those who make images. (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1980).
From the above it is clear that it is forbidden to make statues or the so called icons.
KHAN: I was always under the impression that the statues were not allowed to show faces. Also, the premise was in those times that one should not start treating the statues as idols - thus praying them
Love nothing of this. It is Haraam (Prohibited) to build statues .
Being a Muslim country Qatar should prohibit with immediate effect Building of statues and Alcohol supply.
Shame why the authorities allow this. Why do they not fear God.
The ruler is responsible for the nation.
I admire Zidaine, he was the one we watched in the United States, especially during the world cup. The head-butt was classic, and he shouldn't been red carded for it. After all, Marco talked about his mother and sister in a negative way. Otherwise, France would have won the World Cup. In the end, for Zidaine, the head-butted towards Marco Materazzi in the 2006 World Cup is my favorite.
Love the statue of the woman with the globe ...