Inviting the world to a curated cultural experience…Qatar!

Qatar’s Fine Art Journey

From Imagination to Habitat
A land of fine art curations, iconic galleries, and an impeccable logistics provider who manages the sophisticated transport of art from imagination to habitats.

An orientation to Qatar’s culture begins when arriving at the Hamad International Airport. Arriving visitors are greeted by multiple artworks on the arrivals level, “8 Oryxes” by the artist Tom Classen and Ali Hassan Al Jaber’s “Desert Horse” introduce visitors to the innumerable public art installations embellishing the landscapes of our desert nation. From the iconic golden “Falcon” outside the airport terminal to “Small Lie” by KAWS installed in the departure gate area, departing passengers can enjoy these immense sculptures.

A rich heritage combined with a fine taste in art makes Qatar the hub of master creators, elegant art pieces, and crafted logistics to transport them to and fro in the modern world. Led by a variety of museums housing world-class collections including the Museum of Islamic Art, the Mathaf Museum of Modern Art, the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, and others. While the shift from an oil-driven economy to a knowledge-based one is largely fuelled by business, art has a critical role to play in this transformation. And with it fine art logistics!

The Art Experience in Qatar
Qatar’s rich history of art and culture is reflected in its world-class museums and iconic galleries housing collections from all around the world. In addition to this, modern-day street art has been instrumental in providing a platform for the emergence of new talent from within the local communities.

Led by Qatar Museums, the Public Art Program has driven awareness of the importance of art since 2013. This program has helped in bringing unique pieces of art from across the world into Qatar, further displaying them in Qatar’s museums or installing them in public places to create landmarks for the world to witness. Some of Qatar’s prized treasures include Rothko’s “White Center”, Paul Cezanne’s “The Card Players”, Paul Gauguin’s “1892 Nafea Faa Ipoipo”, Damien Hirst’s “The Miraculous Journey”, Serra’s “East-west/West-east”, “Small Lie” by KAWS, “Falcon” by Tom Classes, and “Two Orchids” by Isa Genzken, to name a few.

The art scene received a major boost when Qatar was announced as the Host Nation for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. Qatar Museum’s initiative to offer a display of 40+ new and commissioned works of public art to attract and engage the one million-plus fans expected to visit the country during the World Cup was highly appreciated. This initiative forms to be one fine example of how Qatar continues to take great steps toward its vision of being recognised as a global art capital.

The Art of Transporting Fine Art
Ever wondered about the complexities of transporting, installing, and caring for these irreplaceable artworks? The logistics process can be as intricate as the strokes of a painting and as structured as the thought that goes into making a sculpture.

Through the years, Qatar has acquired numerous pieces of art with the help of specialised fine art logistics. GWC continues to play an instrumental role in achieving the desired outcome, partnering with various international stakeholders in the process. Moving delicate art pieces around the world is a work of a specialist that requires tailor-made infrastructure, convoluted strategies, and above all a team of expert art handlers who are seasoned in the craft. GWC offers all this and more, which enables the delivery of nail-to-nail fine art logistics. Whether it is safely bringing art to our museums or systematically installing public art, the leading logistics provider takes pride in servicing an elite clientele, contributing to Qatar’s art movement in so doing.

The Process
Shipping art requires meticulous planning across various stakeholders involving museum curators, registrars, handlers and conservators, insurance professionals, and couriers. GWC’s specialised fine art logistics follow meticulous procedures to ensure the safe and uninterrupted transportation of art pieces.

Documentation: This foremost process at GWC, the fine art logistics provider, is to ensure that all documents such as agreements, insurances, customs clearances, etc are well-planned and processed to plan the next move.

Packing and Crating: GWC is well-known for its expertise in packing and crating. Every shipment is determined by varying factors such as the fragility, size, weight, and vulnerability of the piece. The size factor necessitates precision for the purpose of selecting the right packing approach so that there is no damage during transit. All artworks require specialised bespoke crating with lining created with conservation-grade inert materials that protect the contents from humidity, shock, temperature changes, air pressure, etc.

Safety and Conservation: Safety is at the core of GWC’s logistics procedures.  In several cases, a courier or an art conservator is appointed to supervise every movement of the artwork during transportation. From packing at origin, through shipping, and subsequent arrival at its destination many museums require a trusted person to follow the transport and handling process. In addition, given the element of high value, art is tracked using GPS technologies, a measure that is taken to protect against any potential attempts of theft.

Importation into Qatar: GWC has the largest customs clearance team in the country and multiple award-winning services. Our clients are assured that all our art shipments are in good hands coming into Qatar. From tarmac supervision to customs clearance, through to transporting the artwork to its end destination, our expert team plans every single aspect in advance ensuring zero bottlenecks during the execution stage.

Delivery and Installation: Aligning with the expected mandate, GWC skilfully manages the last-mile delivery of art into museums. Furthermore, in the case of sculptures, our team is also involved in unloading and installing exhibition as well as public art pieces.

What does the future hold for Fine Art?
With Qatar being in the limelight for the FIFA World Cup™ this year, the focus will strongly hold upon other cultural offerings such as Art. This opportunity will be enhanced by giving global travellers an insight into Qatar’s curated world of art. Visitors will be able to experience masterpieces from the cultures and artists of the world, available exclusively in Qatar. Some art pieces will also be handcrafted to allow these global citizens to take a piece of their time in Qatar in the form of a memorable souvenir. GWC takes pride in contributing to building and fortifying Qatar as a global cultural capital of the future.

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