Giant Steel Sculpture and Doha Skyline | Experience Qatar's Wealth at MIA Park

Stroll along the coastline of MIA Park. Due to Ramadan and the high temperatures, the park appears somewhat deserted during the day. In the evening, the cafes and food trucks in the park start preparing for IFTAR after sunset. Don't miss the giant steel sculpture at the end of MIA Park, The 7 Sculpture by Richard Serra. Commissioned by the Qatar Museums Authority on the recommendation of I.M. Pei, this minimalist sculpture by Richard Serra is his tallest work, standing nearly 80 feet high and composed of seven corten steel plates from Germany. It is currently the tallest public art piece in Qatar. At night, the '7' resembles a silent minaret. The artist himself mentioned that the design was largely influenced by the Ghazni minaret in Afghanistan. The sculpture consists of seven panels arranged in a heptagonal layout, with three rectangular openings allowing entry. The top has a heptagonal gap that creates complex layers of shadows in the sunlight. The number 7 holds extraordinary significance in many religions and traditional cultures around the world, and it also has unique spiritual meaning in Islamic culture. Under the dim light of night, the massive '7' reminds me of the giant black monolith in Kubrick's '2001: A Space Odyssey.' The thin layer of rust seems to shimmer with a golden outline, evoking an incredible sense of sacredness for someone like me who has a fascination with large objects. There are a few cafes along the coastline of MIA Park. I randomly chose one and sat down, enjoying the sea breeze from the Arabian Sea. The twinkling lights of the Doha skyline across the bay contrast sharply with the many traditional-style buildings on this side. Sitting in this small seaside cafe, one can truly feel Qatar's wealth, but I must say, this country is indeed luxurious without being gaudy. Whether in architectural style or public spaces, everything is done with great artistic taste.