Collaborative Matrix

Qatar Museums Public Art

Collaborative Matrix is a public art work that was commissioned by Qatar Museum. It repurposes ceramics made at the Clay Encounters studio to design and manufacture traditional terrazzo tiles that have been fabricated in Qatar since 1979. The aggregate that is typically used within the tiles is replaced by pottery that was handcrafted by the community. The pieces are crushed and recycled to preserve the pieces, and to also preserve Qatar’s pottery heritage.

The concept of this project draws from Qatar’s resilience and collaborative spirit. It speaks to the power of individuals coming together and the power of the collective that stems from collaboration. The final work is made up of individual rectangular cube units that when assembled create a matrix. It allows people to sit and collaborate on projects, gather, and discuss ideas. The system is flexible and can create different configurations based on the context by adding to or removing units from the overall matrix.

It is at Crescent Park in Lusail and it adds an element of functionality to the concept of traditional public art. It allows the public to engage with it as well as with each other.