Mehdi Moutashar (b. 1943, Iraq) has explored the possibilities of geometric abstraction for over five decades. Drawing inspiration from his childhood memories—tracing lines in the sand, observing shadows cast by palm fronds, and admiring the intricate designs in local mosques—his work balances mathematical precision with evocative nostalgia.
Aspire House is commissioned for Aspire Park and created in collaboration with Qatar Museums and the Ministry of Social Development and Family as part of the Year of the Family 2024.Building on his 2007 piece titled Three Angles at 135°,Moutashar uses common Kufic calligraphic connections where diagonals form knots at the intersections between successive and parallel letters, Aspire House uses this ancestral system creating a dynamic composition of unfolding and overlapping lines. It reflects themes of family and home evoking elements of traditional domestic structures, such as thresholds, fountains, and courtyards.
This landmark installation marks Moutashar’s first permanent public artwork. Seamlessly integrated into the park’s landscape, the open composition invites visitors to interact with the space, creating their own paths and perspectives within the artwork’s multiple orientations. By transforming cultural heritage and personal reflections into physical form, Moutashar’s work encourages contemplation of our surroundings, the familiar spaces we inhabit, and the social connections they represent.
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