Doha is one of the busiest hubs in the Middle East, and a popular stopover for flights to and from Asia, Africa, Europe and Australia. I had a 12-hour layover there on my way to Bangkok, and I decided to make the most of it. First of all, let me tell you that Doha airport is huge and modern. It has everything you need for a comfortable transit, from free Wi-Fi and charging stations, to lounges and spas, to a wide range of shops and restaurants. There’s even an indoor train that connects the different terminals. The airport is also very clean and well-organized, and the staff are friendly and helpful.

One of the highlights of Doha airport is the art installations that you can find throughout the building. There are some amazing sculptures and paintings that showcase the culture and history of Qatar, as well as some contemporary pieces that are just fun to look at. The ‘Discover the Art of the Airport’, is a unique walking tour through an immersive experience where guests can view impressive sculptures and art installations by leading artists from around the world.

Small Lie

While transiting through Hamad International Airport (HIA) this time, I saw a new huge sculpture. I was drawn at it by its huge size and a bit of comical artwork. It’s named “Small Lie.”

Small Lie, an iconic artwork by American artist KAWS is now located at HIA. KAWS is the fourth American artist joining HIA’s Art Programme. It is the first time that one of KAWS’ pieces is exhibited in an airport.

Brian Donnelly (born 1974), better known as KAWS, spent the first year of his career as an animator for Disney. After leaving in 1997, KAWS took inspiration from the company’s signature cartoon, Mickey Mouse, to create his own set of characters that he named Companions.

His monumental structures have been shown in prestigious locations including the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the Yorkshire Sculpture Park in the UK and the Brooklyn Museum in New York. In 2017, his four-foot-tall Seated Companion (2011) broke the auction record for the series, selling for $411,000.

With gloved hands and X’s for eyes, “Companions” first appeared in KAWS’s graffiti works across New York City in the late 1990s. By the end of the decade, the street artist created his first three-dimensional version, and his characters have since taken on a variety of colors, sizes, and poses.

Among KAWS’s signature “Companion,” Small Lie has the most childlike charm. Clad in overall shorts, the Pinocchio-inspired figure bows its head in shame as if hiding from a parent after getting in trouble. KAWS debuted the character at Yorkshire Sculpture Park, the U.K. in 2016, presenting a 15 tonnes, 32-foot-tall version made of African hardwood, called Afrormosia (Pericopsis elata) wood. Afrormosia closely resembles teak and is so often used as a teak substitute that it is sometimes referred to as African teak.

The inspiration behind Small Lie comes from the artist’s relationship to wooden toys growing up and the warm sensation of the wood grain. Expanding on this, he created an oversized sculpture that plays with an emotional tension of strength and kindness. Small Lie makes the viewer feel small but also want to protect it and console it.

Lamp Bear

My favorite was the giant yellow teddy bear with a lamp on its head, which is located in the main departure hall. It’s so cute and quirky!

Airport artwork doesn’t get much bigger than at Doha’s Airport, which now boasts another giant sculpture to sit alongside the iconic 23-foot canary yellow teddy bear, weighing around 20 tonnes — Lamp Bear by a famous Swiss artist named Urs Fischer (born 1973) — sculpted from cast bronze, that sits peacefully inside a lamp. The Lamp Bear was previously displayed in front of the Seagram Building on New York’s Park Avenue. It is reported to be bought by a member of the Qatari royal family for over $6.8 million from an auction at Christie’s, New York.

Playground

There are other huge sculptures inside the airport like the copper Playground created by an American sculptor Tom Otterness (born 1952).

Overall, I had a very pleasant transit experience at Doha airport. It was one of the best airports I’ve ever been to, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is looking for a stopover destination.