About the Artists
Marco Bruno (b.1968) is an architect, raised and educated in Torino (Italy), specialised in Los Angeles (California), practising in Seoul (South Korea) and teaching in Doha (Qatar).
Since 2006, Marco Bruno, together with design partner Simone Carena, runs MOTOElastico, a multidisciplinary space-lab based in Seoul and Doha, working on architecture, interior and public art projects. MOTOElastico received several design awards and was invited to present its projects in prestigious international exhibitions among which: Anyang Public Art Project, Seoul Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Collection, Italian Pavilion at the Venice Art Biennale, Korean Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale (Golden Lion), Marrakech Art Biennale, Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism and the Bi-City Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism of Shenzen.
Michael Perrone (b. 1966) studied art and art education at The School of The Museum of Fine Arts/Tufts and received an MFA in Painting from the University of Pennsylvania in 2004.
Perrone has taught at the University of Iowa and is currently a professor of painting at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Art in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar). He has mounted two solo exhibitions with Michael Steinberg Fine Art in Chelsea, New York City, and has participated in numerous group exhibitions internationally.
Recently, Perrone has completed two public art projects in Qatar; one at Doha Festival City and one at Lusail Crescent Park. In 2017, Perrone, with his wife—artist Mariah Dekkenga—founded an artist residency and gallery, v_e_s_t_i_b_u_l_e, in Randolph, Vermont, USA.
About the Artwork
The aim of the Shelters project is to celebrate the value of the Doha cricket community by providing two structures that can serve as gathering and resting areas. The shelters are inspired by the temporary safety spaces built for the workers next to large construction sites. These refuges are made of scaffolding metal pipes covered with synthetic mesh and they are usually equipped with wood benches and basic safety gears.
The main Shelter structure is made of steel pipes while the large surface of the external fabric is painted with atmospheric shades to merge the shelters into the surrounding urban landscape. Inside there is a gathering space and few wood benches that will allow the people to rest and comfortably watch the game. The entire structure is removable and can be eventually transported and installed in a different location.
The aim of Shelters is to use art and design to create a series of small landmarks that will positively help to shift the current perception of street cricket in Doha.
