Otto Piene’s Light Room with Mönchengladbach Wall in Sprüth Magers’s booth at Art Basel Qatar 2026

Tucked away in a darkened side room in the M7 plaza, CAVS Director Emeritus Otto Piene’s Light Room with Mönchengladbach Wall (1963–2013) is a hypnotic diversion from the fair bustle outside.

Constructed from six light sources, cardboard, wood, aluminum, and motors, this work bathes the room in shadow-play patterns of undulating spirals, circles, and softened tones. Automatic timers regulate the light sources so that brightness varies between almost total darkness and brightened radiance.

The work was created in the 1960s when Piene, a founding member of the influential post-war art collective Group Zero, explored complex mechanized light sculptures in his practice. Often involving metal screens, discs, motors, timers, and rotating electric lights, these installations create an almost theatrical experience.

This has been named as one of the 10 Best Booths at Art Basel Qatar 2026 by Artsy.

Taking place in the Doha Design District, Art Basel’s first foray into the Middle East marks a new chapter in Art Basel’s history. With 87 galleries taking part, the fair is a fraction of the size of its other editions (the flagship Basel fair last year included 289 galleries). Plus, unlike the other Basel fairs where group booths are rife, this fair is dedicated entirely to solo artist “special projects,” as the fair’s communications put it.

Qatar, a country of just over three million residents, has in recent years grown into a global hub that brings together regional traditions with contemporary, international art, and creative industries. In particular, Qatar Museums has developed several important projects, like the Museum of Islamic Art and Katara Cultural Village. These new venues come alongside significant investment in public art, international exchange initiatives, and major events such as the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The fair is also overseen by Sheikha al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, the sister of the country’s Emir, chair of Qatar Museums, and an instrumental figure in growing the country’s cultural initiatives.