The Breath of the Starry Night

The oil works on sandpaper depict the meditative moment during sunset and sunrise on the dunes. Using the sand as a medium of art, artist Matteo Montani celebrates the local culture and refers back to its landscapes, revealing them through a new dimension.

Vertical Landscapes

Excavated during the 20th century, rich archeological findings trace the Qatari strive for finesse and excellence as far back as to the 4th century BC. Among the variety of discoveries, two material families – stone and metal – tell the story of a nation through the refined craftsmanship of gifted stonemasons, goldsmiths, and jewelers. Elaborate rock carvings, bejeweled rings, and polished blades are a few examples of the qualities that have made the early Qatari artisans stand out.

Marking Katara Hospitality’s 50th anniversary, the art collection for the two Katara Towers is curated to revive the sense of awe one feels in the presence of excellence and to reinstate that long-standing commitment to excellence Qatar holds for prosperity. Viewing this work from the side, the work refers to the the developing skyline of Lusail as a young and fast-growing city. Viewing it from above, the shapes of the structures create geometric patterns that allude to traditional Islamic aesthetics. In this way, Qatari artist Noor Abuissa ties the past and the present together into one simultaneous representation. 

The Making of Royalty

Qatar’s geographical location has placed the country at a crossroads of both maritime and overland trading routes, bringing a wide range of commodities to the country. This has influenced the local production of a wide variety of craft objects to the highest design and craftsmanship levels, continuously striving to excel. The works at the important Amiri Lounge are inspired by the creation of jewels. The two glass artists featured in this installation, James Lethbridge and Hanne Enemark took inspiration from the exceptional works in the Al Thani collection in Paris that was assembled by the family of the Emir of Qatar, telling a story of a developing artistic excellence.

The Perpetual Motion of a Dune 

A spectacular installation by Giles Miller welcomes guests into the ballroom, celebrating the perpetual motion of a dune. Using material and light, a sea of ‘pixels,’ in different textures of gold, follows the aesthetics of desert winds moving through sand. The result is a detailed composition of meticulously arranged components that created a sense of richness, tactility, depth and allure. This piece acts as an intriguing point of focus and traces the different perceptions of the dune. 

Curved Winds

How can we perceive the immensity of a desert dune? 

Believing that the key to perceiving a whole element is to share each perception, artist Natalie Blake divided an aerial image of a dune into different wall tiles, all distributed throughout the hotel’s guest rooms. Each room showcases a piece of the movement of wind captured in clay, allowing the dune to only be fully seen by an entire community as a whole, through the shared views of each guest. 

This work takes inspiration from the constant formation of sand dunes by Qatari winds. Crafted individually by hand, the textured tiles represent the desert movement and the subtle smooth dune-like surfaces.

Fire & Ice

The glass installation for the Fire & Ice Restaurant (now renamed to 'Provok') was crafted in collaboration by master glass artisans Louis Thomson and Hanne Enemark. The two mirroring walls embody the metamorphosis of glass inspired by the design of the two restaurants, moving from the cold icy breeze to the hot flames of fire used in the crafting process. Two mirroring walls embody the metamorphosis of glass inspired by the design of the two restaurants, moving from the cold icy breeze to the hot flames of fire used in the crafting process. Depending on the sun's position and intensity, the effect of the natural light through the glass pieces produces ever-changing tones of oranges such as ambers, ochre, and bronze, and blues such as aquamarine, violet and azure, culminating in two different, but visually rich experiences within one space.

The collection interplays each unique object through colours, form, or material quality, while referring to Qatari history. These 108 glass objects are made from solid glass but give the illusion of a container, containing local specimens of desert sand suspended in a richly coloured medium. The sand patterns are inspired by the of dunes the desert, and the movement of the sand. Others reference the Qatari element of metal, with gold and platinum fibres displayed inside. The forms are not solely aesthetic – each is a nod to different shapes and elements found in Qatari culture and history.

The number 108 refers to spiritual completion. Fashioned after the idea of a “work in progress,” various series of of the glassworks are displayed showcasing the process, with the first item in the sequence as the form in its original state and the subsequent items progressing to the final finished state.
The shapes are not random – each a nod to different forms found in Qatari culture.

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Layers of the Earth

Different layers of materials raise one’s curiosity and call for exploration. Tranquillity is conveyed via natural material, inviting all to linger in its depths. Similarly, the art collection keeps entertaining the eye, with coloured marble and crystallized stone works revealing the layers of the earth. Artist Edward Locota depicted the geological structure of the Qatari land and reinterpreted it. The six sculptures in marble, glass, resin and rocks depict the rich soil of the land.