Exhibition

The special pieces created for the Nitaj exhibition, curated by Isola Design and Sama Design for WASL Art Space, are the final outcome of the Nitaj residency project.

As an exponent of a “minimal radicalist” approach to design, I found an interesting hidden connection between my work and Bedouin jewelry. Firstly and easy, thanks to the use of metal, and secondly (and more importantly) because of the modular nature of these incredibly crafted pieces. Modularity is a unique approach to designing objects. There is something fascinating in the idea that a complex material artifact can be the result of the thoughtful composition of many parts, most of which are regular iterations of the same element.
Therefore I explored a way to translate these elements into a modern lighting object. Over the course of the residency this concept merged with the inspiration taken from the Bedouin lanterns themselves and the hanging tassels of some of these jewels and lamps.
The Sharaba Lanterns are the synthesis of this entire process, also played on different scales of proportions, to create an object that represents a personal interpretation (avoiding imitation) of these objects, using the elements that also define my language.

With the same approach I decided to create a personal and contemporary homage to the Mihrab, the niche that points towards Mecca in mosques and all places of prayer.
During this residency I had the opportunity to immerse myself more deeply in Muslim culture in ways I never would have even imagined before. The message on the front plaque of Tanwir Mihrab is therefore an invitation to people to move beyond the aspects that may be difficult to understand about this culture and try to look with curiosity and respect to gain a deeper knowledge of its beautiful core values.

ph. credit: Abdullah Salem
ph. courtesy: Sama Design