A
series of fourteen monumental bronze sculptures chronicling the gestation of a
fetus inside a womb, from conception to birth, is one of the most daring
sculptures ever to be commissioned and installed in a region that’s
historically known for his archaic laws and the suppression of women.
Titled
“The Miraculous Journey”, the sculptures sit outside the Sidra Medical Centre
dedicated to women and children that opened this week in Doha, Qatar. The
sculptures were originally installed in 2013 but was quickly covered from
public view following an outcry on social media. It was unveiled recently for
the hospital’s official inauguration.
Damien
Hirst, the creator of “The Miraculous Journey”, is no stranger to controversy.
His 20-meter-tall bronze figure of a naked pregnant woman drew uproar when it
was installed in the quiet seaside town of Ilfracombe in north Devon, England.
Regarding “The Miraculous Journey”, Hirst acknowledges that the set is
controversial, especially since it’s the first “naked sculpture” in the Middle
East. “It’s very brave,” he told Doha News.
Hirst
might sound like he is patting himself in the back, but he actually is praising
the Qatar Museum Authority and Qatar Foundation that commissioned the
sculpture.
“To
have something like this is less daring than having a lot of nudity,” Sheikha
al Mayassa Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, chairwoman of the Qatar Museums
Authority told the New York Times back in 2013. “There is a verse in the Koran
about the miracle of birth. It is not against our culture or our religion.”
“We
are not expecting everyone to like them. We are not expecting everyone to
understand them. This is why they are there to actually create this element of
debate, this element of thinking,” said Layla Ibrahim Bacha, an art specialist
at the government-supported Qatar Foundation.
“We
believe it reflects very much the mission of Sidra, taking care of the
healthcare of woman and babies,” said Bacha. “I think it’s perfect for the
location, as you can see a lot of people are taking pictures, I think it’s
becoming iconic.”
“The
Miraculous Journey” will be the centerpiece of some 65 pieces of artwork placed
throughout the hospital, some made by high-profile international names and
artists from across the Arab world, including Qatar.
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