Doha:Giuseppe Penone's first exhibition in the Middle East, titled "The Inner Flow of Life," is on display at the National Museum of Qatar from October 26 to February 13, 2027. This exhibition marks the first dedicated event in the region for the renowned Italian artist, showcasing the evolution of his work from 1970 to the present, with a focus on the interplay between human and natural processes.
According to Qatar News Agency, the exhibition features over 50 pieces, including sculptures, drawings, installations, and photographs. It also includes five custom-built pavilions in the museum's Baraha, each highlighting a material central to Penone's artistic practice. Additionally, Qatar Museums is presenting two monumental bronze trees with river stones, titled "Idee di Pietra," at the Old Doha Port.
Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Hamad Al-Thani, Director of the National Museum of Qatar, expressed pride in hosting the exhibition, emphasizing its reflection of the museum's commitment to history, heritage, and the natural environment. He noted that Penone's works resonate across borders, revealing the vision of an extraordinary artist and universal human experiences.
Giuseppe Penone himself commented on the exhibition's expansion of his lifelong artistic concepts, highlighting the dialogue between his works and the museum's architecture, as well as Qatar's natural elements like water, sun, wind, and sand.
Co-curators Hans Ulrich Obrist and Issa Al Shirawi described the exhibition as a significant event for Qatar Museums and the South West Asia and North Africa region. They highlighted its role in introducing regional audiences to Penone's work, which interacts thoughtfully with Jean Nouvel's architectural design.
Key pieces in the exhibition include "Respirare l'ombra" (To Breathe the Shadow), "Alberi Libro" (Book Trees), "Propagazione di S¨vres" (S¨vres Propagation), and "Propagazione," a large wall drawing made from a fingerprint. One pavilion focuses on works made of acacia thorns, featuring "Spine d'acacia - Palpebra" (Acacia Thorns - Eyelid) and the charcoal wall drawing "Pressione" (Pressure). Other notable works include "Impronte di corpi nell'aria" (Bodies Imprinted in the Air) and "Scrigno" (Casket) made from leather and gilded bronze.
Additional installations are located in the museum's Old Palace and courtyard, such as "Thunderstruck Tree" and "Rovesciare i propri occhi - Cascina Ruffini" (Reversing One's Eyes - Cascina Ruffini), along with models and sketches representing over 50 years of Penone's practice.
A comprehensive program of public events accompanies the exhibition, featuring talks, film screenings, workshops, literary encounters, and interactive experiences to enhance public engagement with Penone's artistic themes.
Part of the Qatar Creates Fall/Winter 2026-27 season, the exhibition joins a broader array of events that highlight Qatar's dedication to cultural exchange, creative dialogue, and global connections. Penone, born in Garessio, Italy, in 1947, is associated with the Arte Povera movement and has spent nearly six decades exploring the relationship between humanity and nature through diverse materials and forms.