The Power of Culture

A series of conversations with Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and people who have been part of Qatar’s architecture & culture development journey. In this episode, Her Excellency is joined by Icelandic-Danish artist, Olafur Eliasson. Eliasson garnered an international reputation based on his large-scale installations that employ elemental materials such as light, water, and air temperature to enhance the viewer’s experience. He represented Denmark at the 50th Venice Biennale in 2003 and later that year installed the Weather Project, an enormous artificial sun shrouded by mist, in the Turbine Hall of Tate Modern, London, which was seen by more than two million people. Among other landmark works were the New York City Waterfalls, which were installed along the city’s waterfronts in 2008. One of his latest pieces of site-specific art was inaugurated in Qatar in October 2022, followed by an exhibition in March 2023 divided between the National Museum of Qatar and the desert. He shares his thoughts on the environment, climate change, and his use of natural elements in his artworks. He reveals his process and inspiration behind his new sculpture in Qatar, as well as his relationship with Viktor Pinchuk and their collaboration on cultural projects in Ukraine. The Power of Culture Podcast is a Qatar Creates production. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.