If you’re looking for some amazing art to admire while you’re waiting for your flight at the Hamad International Airport, Doha, you’re in luck. The airport is home to some stunning artworks by local and international artists, and one of them is Cosmos by Jean-Michel Othoniel.

Many time, I transit via Doha airport. When the layover time is a few hours, I roam around and explore the airport. There is a small metro rail service inside the airport. It takes passengers from the north side to the south side and back.

French artist, Jean-Michel Othoniel displays Cosmos, a large and intricate globe installation that symbolizes the path of travelers around the world. The artist is best known for modernising the gardens of the Château de Versailles with his striking glass fountain sculptures.

Cosmos is a giant globe made of gold and steel that hangs from the ceiling of the airport’s main hall. It’s inspired by the oldest Islamic astrolabe in the world, which is a device used to measure the position of the stars and planets. The astrolabe is part of the collection at the Museum of Islamic Art in Qatar. I have seen it there during one of my couple of stays in the city of Doha.

The globe is composed of thousands of beads that form intricate patterns and curves. It symbolizes the path of travelers around the world, as well as the beauty and harmony of the cosmos. Depending on where you stand, you can see different shapes and colors reflecting from the surface of the globe. It’s a mesmerizing sight that will make you feel like you’re part of a bigger universe.

What is an astrolabe?

Astrolabe is a type of early scientific instrument used for reckoning time and for observational purposes used from ancient times until about the 18th century. The early astrolabe was invented in the Hellenistic civilization by Apollonius of Perga between 220 and 150 BCE, often attributed to Hipparchus. Astrolabes have been traced to the 6th century, and they appear to have come into wide use from the early Middle Ages in Europe and the Islamic world. By about the mid-15th century, astrolabes were adopted by mariners and used in celestial navigation. It was widely used throughout the Muslim world, chiefly as an aid to navigation and as a way of finding the Qibla, the direction of Mecca.

The striking piece resembles bright calligraphy drawn in space when observed side-on or from below and appears in the shape of a blooming rose when observed from the front.

Cosmos is one of my favorite artworks at Doha airport, and I always stop to admire it whenever I’m there. It’s a great example of how art can connect different cultures and histories, and how it can inspire wonder and curiosity. If you have some time to spare before your flight, I highly recommend checking it out.