Qatar is set to establish itself as a major international art destination with the launch of a new quadrennial exhibition in November 2026. The inaugural edition, titled "Unruly Water," will be curated by four prominent figures in the contemporary art world: Tom Eccles, executive director of the Center for Curatorial Studies and the Hessel Museum of Art at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York; Ruba Katrib, chief curator and director of curatorial affairs at MoMA PS1 in New York; Mark Rappolt, editor-in-chief of ArtReview magazine; and Shabbir Husain Mustafa, a curator at the National Gallery of Singapore.
The exhibition's title draws inspiration from a book by Sunil S. Amrith that explores bodies of water in South Asia. The quadrennial will be hosted at Al Riwaq, an exhibition pavilion located next to the Museum of Islamic Art, which has previously showcased blockbuster exhibitions by internationally renowned artists such as Jeff Koons and Takashi Murakami.
One of the featured projects in the inaugural edition is a cooking performance by acclaimed Thai artist Rirkrit Tiravanija, titled "untitled 2025 (no bread no ashes)." The performance was unveiled on Wednesday at the corner of MIA Park, outside of Al Riwaq, as part of the Evolution Nation festival. The interactive piece involves baking bread with different bakers each Friday from 4 to 6 p.m., representing the diverse range of cultures present in Qatar. Tiravanija will be one of 58 artists participating in the quadrennial's first edition.
"Rirkrit Tiravanija's 'untitled 2025 (no bread no ashes)' embodies Rubaiya's spirit of inclusion and collaboration," said Sheikha Reem Al Thani, director of Rubaiya Qatar, in a statement. "By inviting people to bake and share bread, the project transforms a simple act into a symbol of community and dialogue. It marks the beginning of Rubaiya Qatar's journey toward its first edition in 2026, which will continue to foster creative exchange and reflect Qatar's diverse and dynamic cultural landscape."
The conceptual foundation for the quadrennial began during a visit by Eccles and Tiravanija to Qatar in late October 2023. During this trip, Tiravanija met Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, chairperson of Qatar Museums, who commissioned him to create a project in Doha. Tiravanija's goal was to develop something that would foster community engagement. "We researched the different communities and the bread that they make," Tiravanija explained to ARTnews about his collaborative research with Eccles.
Eccles described the area around Al Riwaq as "one more of the great democratic spaces of the city" in an interview with ARTnews. He noted that on weekends, the park outside the venue is packed with Qataris from all backgrounds, and he wants the quadrennial to reflect this diversity. The curatorial team drew inspiration from the remnants of a 10th-century sunken ship in the collection of the Islamic Museum of Art. This ancient vessel, which traveled from Baghdad to Indonesia and possibly as far as China, serves as "proof positive of the maritime Silk Road," according to Eccles.
The historical maritime connections influenced the geographical scope of the exhibition. "We looked at the patterns of water, monsoons, traffic, migration, and found that the patterns of the 10th century very much feel like the shape of Qatar today," Eccles explained. "That gave us our regional mapping of where we find the artists for the quadrennial." The show will reflect themes of weather, water, migration patterns, and geopolitical realities that shape contemporary life.
Tiravanija's bread-making performance will be reactivated in February during the first Art Basel Qatar, which will also launch next year under the direction of artist Wael Shawky. For the quadrennial, Eccles revealed that the Tiravanija installation will be given a roof inspired by bread, and this structure could potentially become a permanent addition to the cultural landscape.
The Qatari art scene has experienced dramatic growth in prominence over the past two decades. The nation is primarily known for institutions such as the Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, which is one of several institutions operated by Qatar Museums. However, Qatar has historically lacked biennial-style contemporary art shows, making this new quadrennial a significant addition to the cultural calendar.
The new exhibition is positioned to become one of the most closely watched recurring art exhibitions in the Gulf region. Its main competition will be the Sharjah Biennial, a well-established and critically acclaimed show in the UAE that was founded in 1993. Beyond the Gulf region, the Qatari quadrennial will compete for international attention alongside Saudi Arabia's Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale and the Islamic Arts Biennale, both relatively new government-run initiatives.
Qatar has made significant strides toward expanding its art scene over the past year. At least two major institutions are in development: a dedicated space for works by M.F. Husain, an Indian modernist who spent time in Qatar, and the Lusail Museum, which has been described as the largest institution anywhere with a focus on Orientalist art. The launch of Art Basel Qatar is expected to attract numerous international observers to the country next year, and Qatar is also expected to launch a Venice Biennale pavilion in the near future. These developments collectively represent Qatar's ambitious efforts to establish itself as a major player in the global contemporary art world.
