Qatar Museums proudly unveiled Aspire House, the first permanent public artwork by acclaimed Iraqi artist Mehdi Moutashar. Commissioned for Aspire Park, the monumental piece reimagines the essence of home and family through geometric abstraction, a hallmark of Moutashar’s five-decade-long artistic journey.
The remarkable artwork was unveiled by Her Excellency Buthaina bint Ali Al Jabr Al Nuaimi, Minister of Social Development and Family and Mohammed Saad Al Rumaihi, CEO Qatar Museums, in the presence of esteemed dignitaries.
Aspire House is a legacy project of Moutashar’s 2023 solo exhibition Mehdi Moutashar: Introspection as Resistance, organised by Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art. This exhibition, his first solo show in Qatar and the region, explored Moutashar’s unique use of Arabic calligraphy and ornamental patterns, challenging Western categorisations of his work. The project is commissioned by the Ministry of Social Development and Family to mark the 30th Anniversary of the International Year of the Family.
Zeina Arida, Director of Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art commented, "As Mathaf reflects on hosting Mehdi Moutashar's first solo exhibition in nearly 50 years, it is profoundly rewarding to see his vision continue to resonate through Aspire House. This monumental artwork builds on the themes explored in his 2023 exhibition, celebrating his mastery of geometric abstraction and deep connection to cultural heritage. Aspire House is a powerful tribute to Moutashar’s enduring legacy.”
Mehdi’s work blends scientific precision with a deeply personal connection to his past, capturing the fleeting moments of his youth in the Middle East. Inspired by the intricate ornamentation of local mosques, the shifting shadows of palm fronds, and the simple yet profound lines he once drew in the sand, Moutashar transforms these memories into dynamic, mathematically precise expressions.
Sheikha Reem Al Thani, Acting Deputy CEO of Exhibitions, Director of Central Exhibitions at Qatar Museums stated, “Public Art holds the power to transform spaces into places of connection and inspiration, and Aspire House exemplifies this transformative potential. Mehdi Moutashar’s vision beautifully complements the unique character of Aspire Park, creating a setting where people of all ages can experience art in a natural and meaningful way. Its strategic placement near the playground was designed to establish a strong bond between the artwork and its surroundings, blending harmoniously with the park’s lively atmosphere. At Qatar Museums, we believe in the role of public art as a bridge between history and modernity, cultivating a sense of community and shared identity. Aspire House is a testament to our ongoing commitment to enriching public spaces with art that is both inclusive and thought-provoking, ensuring it resonates deeply with diverse audiences.”
Evolving from the artist’s 2007 artwork Three Angles at 135° (a Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art Collection), Aspire House incorporates a dynamic interplay of successive, unfolding, and overlapping lines to construct an open, multi-dimensional space. Interwoven with the landscape of Aspire Park, the structure evokes traditional architectural elements such as thresholds, fountains, and courtyards, a symbol of home and sanctuary.
Mehdi Moutasher stated, “When I visited the Park Aspire for the first time, I was immediately captivated by the exceptional quality of its spaces: open, moving, inhabited by splendid trees, and dedicated to relaxation. I immediately understood the need to be in deep harmony with the spirit of the place: it was not a question of building any monument but slipping into the current that shaped the space. This is the reason why my construction is traversed by the park as well as its visitors: a fluid artwork - while being made of bricks - whose circulation invites multiple perspectives and endless games.”
The artwork’s multiple orientations encourage visitors to navigate their own paths, creating a personal dialogue with the piece. Its precise mathematical composition, rooted in Moutashar’s signature abstraction, bridges the realms of memory and modernity, inviting reflection on the shared human experience.
Following the unveiling, Qatar Museums’ Public Art team is organising a Public Art Picnic, an innovative series of on-site artist talks designed to bring the public directly to the artworks. This casual, picnic-inspired setting offers an informal and immersive experience, allowing attendees to meet the artists, explore their creative processes, and engage in meaningful dialogue about the art in its natural environment. In addition to cultivating a deeper connection between the public and the artists, this initiative also serves as a platform to nurture community building among creatives in Qatar, encouraging collaboration, inspiration, and the exchange of ideas.
With Aspire House, Qatar Museums continues its mission to push the boundaries of public art, transforming everyday spaces into immersive experiences that invite interaction, reflection, and personal discovery.
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About Qatar Museums
Qatar Museums (QM), the nation's preeminent institution for art and culture, provides authentic and inspiring cultural experiences through a growing network of museums, heritage sites, festivals, public art installations, and programmes. QM preserves, restores, and expands the nation's cultural offerings and historical sites, sharing art and culture from Qatar, the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia (MENASA) region with the world and enriching the lives of citizens, residents, and visitors.
Under the patronage of His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and led by its Chairperson, Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, QM has made Qatar a vibrant centre for the arts, culture, and education in the Middle East and beyond. QM is integral to the goal of developing an innovative, diverse, and progressive nation, bringing people together to ignite new thinking, spark critical cultural conversations, educate and encourage environmental stewardship and sustainable practices, and amplify the voices of Qatar's people. Since its founding in 2005, QM has overseen the Museum of Islamic Art and MIA Park, Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, the National Museum of Qatar, QM Gallery Al Riwaq, QM Gallery Katara and the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum. Future museums include Dadu, Children's Museum of Qatar, Qatar Auto Museum, Art Mill Museum and the Lusail Museum.
Through its newly created Creative Hub, QM also initiates and supports projects—such as the Fire Station Artist in Residence, the Tasweer Qatar Photo Festival, the creative hub for innovation, fashion and design M7, and Liwan Design Studios and Labs —that nurture artistic talent and create opportunities to build a strong and sustainable cultural infrastructure.
Animating everything that Qatar Museums does is an authentic connection to Qatar and its heritage, a steadfast commitment to inclusivity and accessibility, and a belief in creating value through invention
About Public Art
Qatar Museums' extensive programme of public art demonstrates its commitment to bringing art directly to the people and expanding everyone's creative horizons. Highlights of the public artworks on view, which enrich the lives of all citizens, include the neon installation A Blessing in Disguise by Ghada Al Khater at the Fire Station: Artists in Residence; Smoke, a sculpture by Tony Smith at the Doha Exhibition & Convention Centre; East-West/West-East, a monumental sculpture in the heart of the Qatar desert by Richard Serra; Gandhi's Three Monkeys by Subodh Gupta at Katara Cultural Village; and Maman, a sculpture by Louise Bourgeois in the form of a giant steel spider at the Qatar National Convention Centre, Qatar Foundation. QM also collaborates with the Hamad International Airport (HIA), where major artworks created by local, regional, and international artists—including Adel Abdessemed, Ahmed Al Bahrani, Dia al-Azzawi, Mubarak Al Malik, Salman Al-Malik, Amal Al Rabban, Tom Claassen, Urs Fischer, Ali Hassan, KAWS, Tom Otterness, and Bill Viola—can be seen. QM also supports a variety of initiatives that aim to engage with contemporary artists in Qatar, an ”Annual Intervention” open call inviting artists to propose a permanent placemaking public artwork; the “Temporary Public Art” open call, inviting early-career artists; i.e students and alumni recently graduated to create a temporary public artwork to be placed in Liwan Design Studios and Labs; and JEDARIART, an annual programme activating the city walls bringing together artists through murals to enrich daily life and encourage the community to reflect on social, historical, and cultural issues. Each year, the public art program also presents World Wide Walls: Doha, a week-long mural festival exclusive to the MENA region. Architect Abdulrahman Ahmed Al-Ishaq serves as Director of QM's Public Art department
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