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Installation view, The curious desert - Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Installation view, The curious desert
Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Orientation lights for rising seas, 2023 - Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Orientation lights for rising seas, 2023
Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Installation view, the curious desert - Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Installation view, the curious desert
Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Your sun compass, 2023 - Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Your sun compass, 2023
Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Your sun compass, 2023 (Detail) - Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Your sun compass, 2023 (Detail)
Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Your sun compass, 2023 (Detail) - Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Your sun compass, 2023 (Detail)
Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Solar-drawing observatory (Small spheres), 2023 - Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Solar-drawing observatory (Small spheres), 2023
Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Solar drawing observatory (Large spheres) (Detail) - Al thakhira, Qatar – 2023 - Photo: Ali Faisal Al Anssari, Qatar Museums
Solar drawing observatory (Large spheres) (Detail)
Al thakhira, Qatar – 2023
Photo: Ali Faisal Al Anssari, Qatar Museums
Solar drawing observatory incense burner - Al Thakira, Qatar – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Solar drawing observatory incense burner
Al Thakira, Qatar – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Solar-drawing observatory (Small spheres), 2023 - Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Solar-drawing observatory (Small spheres), 2023
Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Solar-drawing observatory (Small spheres), 2023 - Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Solar-drawing observatory (Small spheres), 2023
Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Saltwater-drawing observatory, 2023 - Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Saltwater-drawing observatory, 2023
Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Saltwater-drawing observatory, 2023 (Detail) - Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Saltwater-drawing observatory, 2023 (Detail)
Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Saltwater drawing observatory (Detail) - Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023
Saltwater drawing observatory (Detail)
Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023
Saltwater-drawing observatory, 2023 - Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Saltwater-drawing observatory, 2023
Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Slow solar event, 2023 - Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Slow solar event, 2023
Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Slow solar event, 2023 - Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Slow solar event, 2023
Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Slow solar event, 2023 (Detail) - Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Slow solar event, 2023 (Detail)
Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Orientation lights for rising seas, 2023 - Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Orientation lights for rising seas, 2023
Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Your fivefold vanishing points, 2023 - Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Your fivefold vanishing points, 2023
Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Your fivefold vanishing points, 2023 (Detail) - Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Your fivefold vanishing points, 2023 (Detail)
Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Your fivefold vanishing points, 2023 (Detail) - Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Your fivefold vanishing points, 2023 (Detail)
Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Rainbow incubator, 2023 - Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023 - Photo: Ali Faisal Al Anssari, Qatar Museums
Rainbow incubator, 2023
Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023
Photo: Ali Faisal Al Anssari, Qatar Museums
Rainbow incubator, 2023 (Detail) - Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Rainbow incubator, 2023 (Detail)
Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Rainbow incubator, 2023 - Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Rainbow incubator, 2023
Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Rainbow incubator, 2023 - Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Rainbow incubator, 2023
Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
City lab for desalination architecture, 2023 - Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
City lab for desalination architecture, 2023
Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
City lab for desalination architecture, 2023 - Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
City lab for desalination architecture, 2023
Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
City lab for desalination architecture, 2023  (Detail) - Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
City lab for desalination architecture, 2023 (Detail)
Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
City lab for desalination architecture, 2023 - Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
City lab for desalination architecture, 2023
Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Your glacial-dust garden, 2023 - Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Your glacial-dust garden, 2023
Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Your glacial-dust garden, 2023 - Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Your glacial-dust garden, 2023
Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Your glacial-dust garden, 2023 (Detail) - Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Your glacial-dust garden, 2023 (Detail)
Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Your pearl garden, 2023 - Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Your pearl garden, 2023
Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Your pearl garden, 2023 (Detail) - Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Your pearl garden, 2023 (Detail)
Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Your obsidian garden, 2023 - Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Your obsidian garden, 2023
Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Your obsidian garden, 2023 (Detail) - Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Your obsidian garden, 2023 (Detail)
Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Your oil-spill garden, 2023 - Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023 - Photo: Ali Faisal Al Anssari, Qatar Museums
Your oil-spill garden, 2023
Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023
Photo: Ali Faisal Al Anssari, Qatar Museums
Your oil-spill garden, 2023 (Detail) - Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Your oil-spill garden, 2023 (Detail)
Al Thakhira, Qatar – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Installation view, The curious desert - National Museum of Qatar, Doha – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Installation view, The curious desert
National Museum of Qatar, Doha – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Eye see you, 2006 - National Museum of Qatar, Doha – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Eye see you, 2006
National Museum of Qatar, Doha – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Installation view, The curious desert - National Museum of Qatar, Doha – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Installation view, The curious desert
National Museum of Qatar, Doha – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Power tower, 2005 (Detail) - National Museum of Qatar, Doha – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Power tower, 2005 (Detail)
National Museum of Qatar, Doha – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
The complete sphere lamp, 2015, set of three - National Museum of Qatar, Doha – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
The complete sphere lamp, 2015, set of three
National Museum of Qatar, Doha – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Installation view, The curious desert - National Museum of Qatar, Doha – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Installation view, The curious desert
National Museum of Qatar, Doha – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Algae window, 2020 - National Museum of Qatar, Doha – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Algae window, 2020
National Museum of Qatar, Doha – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Installation view, The curious desert - National Museum of Qatar, Doha – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Installation view, The curious desert
National Museum of Qatar, Doha – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Installation view, The curious desert - National Museum of Qatar, Doha – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Installation view, The curious desert
National Museum of Qatar, Doha – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
The slow life of sunlight, 2023 - National Museum of Qatar, Doha – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
The slow life of sunlight, 2023
National Museum of Qatar, Doha – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Future eye seeing now, 2020  - National Museum of Qatar, Doha – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Future eye seeing now, 2020
National Museum of Qatar, Doha – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Your sooner than later, 2020 - National Museum of Qatar, Doha – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Your sooner than later, 2020
National Museum of Qatar, Doha – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Map for navigating memory, 2022 - National Museum of Qatar, Doha – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Map for navigating memory, 2022
National Museum of Qatar, Doha – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
The living lighthouse, 2023 - National Museum of Qatar, Doha – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
The living lighthouse, 2023
National Museum of Qatar, Doha – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
The living lighthouse, 2023 - National Museum of Qatar, Doha – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
The living lighthouse, 2023
National Museum of Qatar, Doha – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Object defined by activity (then), 2009 - National Museum of Qatar, Doha – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Object defined by activity (then), 2009
National Museum of Qatar, Doha – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Installation view, The curious desert, Drawings from Saltwater-drawing observatory, 2023 and Solar-drawing observatory comprises - National Museum of Qatar, Doha – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Installation view, The curious desert, Drawings from Saltwater-drawing observatory, 2023 and Solar-drawing observatory comprises
National Museum of Qatar, Doha – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Drawings from Saltwater-drawing observatory, 2023 comprises - National Museum of Qatar, Doha – 2023
Drawings from Saltwater-drawing observatory, 2023 comprises
National Museum of Qatar, Doha – 2023
Drawing from Saltwater-drawing observatory, 2023 comprises - National Museum of Qatar, Doha – 2023
Drawing from Saltwater-drawing observatory, 2023 comprises
National Museum of Qatar, Doha – 2023
Firefly biosphere (twilighting), 2022 - National Museum of Qatar, Doha – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Firefly biosphere (twilighting), 2022
National Museum of Qatar, Doha – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Research map - National Museum of Qatar, Doha – 2023 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
Research map
National Museum of Qatar, Doha – 2023
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
The film explores Olafur’s extensive exhibition titled “The curious desert”. It is a two-part exhibition, consisting of site-specific installations in the sabka near the Al Thakhira Mangrove in Northern Qatar, and an extensive gallery presentation at the National Museum of Qatar. The film looks at Olafur's experimentation with light and color, geometric studies, ecological awareness, and the exploration of more-than-human relationships.

A Tigerlily Production for Studio Olafur Eliasson and Qatar Museums, 2023.
Directed by Lana Daher.
Director of photography Eric Trometer.
Produced by Natasha Dack Ojumu.
Watch on soe.tv ⤶
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الصحراء تعانق الخيال / The curious desert, 2023

Conceived by Eliasson for the galleries of the National Museum of Qatar, in Doha, and for an outdoor location some 64 kilometres northeast of the city, The curious desert included new site-specific works that explored the artist’s abiding interests in light, colour, geometric studies, ecological awareness, and more-than-human relationships.

Twelve temporary outdoor pavilions installed near Al Thakhira Mangrove Reserve housed a series of experimental artworks that responded to local natural phenomena, such as sunlight, wind, and water. Eliasson and Qatar Museums worked with an ecologist to ensure the protection of the sabkha’s native plants and non-human inhabitants, such as the Arabian Red Fox.

At the National Museum of Qatar, the wide-ranging presentation of works from throughout the artist’s career included expansive light installations, photo series from Iceland, complex geometric studies, watercolours, optical devices, and a sprawling research map.