Darin and Tarout Island project, Saudi Arabia

Contributed to the conceptual and cultural development of Darin and Tarout island in Saudi Arabia by grounding its direction in local heritage, material culture, and historical identity. The work focused on translating cultural narratives into spatial and experiential elements that reflect the history and character of the region.

Supported the transformation of an urban plaza and waterfront area in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia, into an artistic and cultural destination, integrating museums, artistic spaces, and community-focused experiences.

This project explored a selection of Tiffany lamps held within the collections of the Neustadt Collection and the New-York Historical Society. Created at Tiffany Studios between the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, these objects are celebrated for their extraordinary craftsmanship and their deep inspiration from the natural world.

Through close study of the lamps, I examined the cultural ideas, values, and relationships embedded within their design. Rather than approaching the objects solely as works of decorative art, I treated them as vessels of knowledge capable of revealing how people understood and represented nature during a particular moment in history.

Using an interpretive methodology, I translated these insights into a series of visual works that highlighted the symbolic relationships between the lamps, their natural inspirations, and the broader cultural narratives they embody. The project sought to deepen engagement with the collection by encouraging audiences to experience the objects not only as artefacts, but as expressions of human creativity, meaning, and connection to the natural world.

This project transformed a selection of Al-Andalus period artefacts from the Aga Khan Museum into a digital learning exhibition designed to deepen public engagement with the collection. Using Cultural Network Mapping, I identified and interpreted the relationships, knowledge systems, and cultural ideas embedded within the objects, revealing layers of meaning that are overlooked in traditional museum interpretation.

The exhibition explored the interconnected networks of people, places, beliefs, technologies, and traditions that shaped their creation and use. These insights were translated into interactive digital experiences that encouraged audiences to investigate, question, and learn through discovery.

The project demonstrated how cultural heritage can be activated through innovative interpretive methodologies, transforming museum collections into dynamic learning environments.