Ernesto Neto’s immersive installation Slug Turtle, TemplEarth, 2022, has been unveiled in the desert of Qatar’s northernmost region, near the Al Zubarah and Ain Mohammed heritage sites. Composed of 8 football goal frames arranged in an octagonal ring and surrounded by white crocheted netting, the site-specific installation invites viewers to communicate with the spirit of the desert. ‘The work creates a space to meditate about our present, past and future in a social-ecological network shared by humans, birds, bugs, plants and all forms of life,’ the artist explains.

The work joins more than 100 public artworks commissioned by Qatar Museums in time for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.