A gigantic ‘dugong’ statue at the West Bay City skyline of Doha – Qatar 9298

Description

Once a standout feature of Qatar’s public art landscape, Dugong was a striking mirror-polished stainless-steel sculpture by renowned American artist Jeff Koons. The vibrant, polychromed artwork depicted a gleaming dugong poised gracefully atop a rolling wave, encircled by seagrass—an exuberant celebration of marine life rendered in Koons’ unmistakable style.

Commissioned by Qatar Museums, Dugong was conceived as a temporary, site-specific public art installation and was exhibited at Al Masrah Park along the Corniche. Unveiled ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the sculpture remained on display for approximately 18 months, well beyond its original timeline.

Initially planned for a six-month installation, the artwork’s presence in Doha was extended due to its strong public reception. However, following its extended run, Dugong was officially dismantled and removed in mid-2024 and is no longer installed in West Bay, the Corniche, or elsewhere in Doha.