Doha: Chairperson of Qatar Museums, HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al-Thani today unveiled ‘Rock on Top of Another Rock’, a large-scale public artwork by the celebrated Swiss artists Peter Fischli and David Weiss. Installed in Doha’s Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) Park, this sculpture transforms two granite boulders into a meditation on strength, fragility, and the human dialogue with nature.
According to Qatar News Agency, the event was attended by Acting Deputy CEO of Exhibitions, Public Art, and Rubaiya Qatar at Qatar Museums, HE Sheikha Reem Al-Thani and many other dignitaries. The monumental sculpture, standing approximately 5.5 metres high, is poised at the boundary between the organic world and human construction, suggesting both permanence and precariousness. Fischli and Weiss, collaborators for more than 30 years before Weiss’s death in 2012, are best known for experimenting with media to present everyday objects in unexpected configurations.
HE Sheikha Reem Al Thani remarked that public art has the power to inspire reflection, provoke ideas, and create moments of connection. She emphasized that Rock on Top of Another Rock embodies art’s ability to transform relationships with spaces, inviting visitors to engage with nature, architecture, and the city.
Peter Fischli commented on the simplicity and significance of the sculpture, noting that placing one rock on top of another in the wilderness is a basic human act to make a mark. He expressed a desire for the artwork to compel people to stop and engage with it.
Originally presented in London’s Hyde Park, with a parallel commission in Norway, Rock on Top of Another Rock is a legacy project of the Qatar-UK 2013 Year of Culture. Its presentation in Doha extends the cultural dialogue begun between the two nations, showcasing the impact of artistic exchange.
Qatar Museums’ public art programme aims to present artworks that interact with various landscapes, and this installation is part of Evolution Nation, an 18-month campaign highlighting Qatar’s cultural journey over the past 50 years. Curated by Qatar Creates, this initiative positions Qatar as a global hub for art, culture, and creativity, celebrating the nation’s cultural milestones and future aspirations.