Jeff Koons dugong sculpture draws attention at Corniche

Dugong sculpture

A gigantic public art installation of a dugong has recently been placed at Corniche, catching the eyes of passers-by in the area. 

The latest addition to Qatar's public art scene is a massive artwork called 'Dugong', a polychromed mirror-polished stainless-steel sculpture made by renowned American artist Jeff Koons. The glistening public art depicts a dugong propped up on an ocean wave and seagrass.

It is currenty placed at Al Masrah Park in Corniche as it stands on a scale of 21-metre high and 31-metre wide. The artwork will officially be inaugurated soon. A dugong, commonly known as "sea cows", is marine mammal which has inhabited the waters surrounding the country's peninsula for thousands of years.

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Qatar is on track to transform its public space into an outdoor museum with the addition of 40 new artworks made by local, regional, and international artists. 

Some of these have already been unveiled and on view to the public such as the stonework, "Us, Her, Him" by Lebanese designer Najla Al Zein revealed alongside the inauguration of the Flag Plaza at Corniche. The colorful artwork, "Come Together", made by South Korean artist Choi Jeong Hwa unveiled near the Education City stadium. More will soon be revealed to the public as the country is less than a month away from hosting the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.