EAST-WEST / WEST-EAST by Richard Serra
Qatar
This breathtaking sculpture in the Brouq nature reserve spans over a kilometre and comprises four steel plates, each over fourteen metres in height. To guarantee perfect alignment, Serra examined the topography of the land and beautifully enhanced the vast, desolate space in the heart of the desert. The result is spectacular and although modern, timeless.
Contents
9 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Orientation
Greetings and welcome to this scholarly exploration of Richard Serra's majestic installation, East-West/West-East. I am your guide, a professor of art history, and together we will journey through one of the most remarkable…
Listen in the app2The Approach and Desert Terrain
As we step away from our vehicles and begin our approach across the breathtaking landscape of Zekrit, we are immediately confronted by the sheer vastness of the Qatari desert. This initial stage of our walking route is essential,…
Listen in the app3The First Plate: Imposing Scale
We have now arrived at the foot of the first monolith. Standing before this colossal structure, we are immediately struck by its commanding presence. …
Listen in the app4The First Corridor: Spatial Experience
Leaving the immediate shadow of the first monolith, we now enter the vast expanse of desert that separates it from the second plate. We are stepping into what our sources aptly describe as a corridor-like space formed by the…
Listen in the app5The Second Plate: Materiality and Patina
We have now arrived at the second monolith in Richard Serra's remarkable sequence. As we stand before this next towering structure, I want us to focus our analytical lens entirely on the materiality of the object itself. …
Listen in the app6The Middle Expanse: Horizontal Orientation
Moving past the second plate, we enter the middle expanse of our journey. This stretch of the corridor-like space formed by the towering steel plates offers a crucial vantage point. …
Listen in the app7The Third Plate: Fusion of Art and Nature
As we arrive at the third monolith, the physical and emotional weight of the East-West/West-East installation becomes increasingly palpable. You have now traversed a significant portion of the Zekrit desert, guided by these…
Listen in the app8The Final Plate and Beyond: Timelessness
We have reached the culmination of our journey: the fourth and final monolith of Richard Serra's East-West/West-East. Standing here at the terminus of this monumental installation in Zekrit, Qatar, the full magnitude of the…
Listen in the app9Closing
As our scholarly exploration of East-West/West-East draws to a close, it is essential to synthesize the profound visual, spatial, and emotional experiences we have encountered today in the remote desert of Zekrit, Qatar. We have…
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What is EAST-WEST / WEST-EAST by Richard Serra?
EAST-WEST / WEST-EAST by Richard Serra is a place in Qatar with 9 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | Qatar |
|---|---|
| Type | Heritage |
| Story sections | 9 |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 25.2816, 51.5387 |
| Last updated |
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