For Hannan Arshad, the journey towards the Christo and Jeanne-Claude Award has been a rediscovery of her heritage.
It was a 2021 visit to her family's hometown in Rampur in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh that shaped Safekeeping Stories, Arshad's winning installation that will be revealed at Abu Dhabi Art in November.
The installation will be assembled like a library, with each brick etched with the artist’s take of miniature Mughal paintings. Viewers will be able to extract the bricks much like they would a book from a shelf.
“It started off by referencing original miniatures from the Mughal era,” Arshad tells The National. “They were basically biographies of the rulers and they’d have images. But now I’m making my own.”
Growing up, Arshad says her exposure to her hometown was limited. She had heard of its princely reputation and of its illustrious Mughal history, but for years, that legacy was represented merely by various objects in her home in the UAE – particularly the copper-tin-coated cups that are an example of the Rampur tradition of qalai.
That changed in 2021 when, right before enrolling in the graphic design programme at American University of Sharjah, Arshad travelled to Rampur, her visit culminating with in-depth access to the town’s famous Raza Library.
The institution was established in the 18th century by Nawab Faizullah Khan and later expanded by the successive nawabs of Rampur. Architecturally, the library is a striking fusion of Mughal, Indo-Islamic and colonial styles – with grand arches, domes, as well as intricate carvings and latticework. What’s inside is even more awe-inspiring. The library houses one of the world’s richest collections of Indo-Islamic manuscripts, books, miniatures and calligraphy.
“I got to see all of it – the Mughal manuscripts, the Nawab’s archives and the way they preserved paper,” Arshad says. “That piqued my interest. It stayed with me, it helped see what my culture is.”
Raza Library may be a spiritual springboard for Safekeeping Stories, but Arshad cites another important structure as the inspiration for its construction. It is also, perhaps, where the “safekeeping” aspect of the project stems from.
“In 2024, I got to see Bara Imambara,” Arshad says of the mosque complex in Lucknow, also in Uttar Pradesh state. The complex was built in the late 18th century and is a stunning example of Mughal engineering and architecture. The Imambara’s design mixes Mughal and Persian aesthetics, with arched doorways, high ceilings and detailed ornamentation. It comprises Asfi Mosque, a maze known as the Bhul-bhulaiya, and a stepwell or baoli.
The complex, Arshad says, took her “breath away”, but it was the actual building materials that captivated her most and laid the seeds for her project.
“When the tour guide started explaining how it was built, he mentioned edible materials,” Arshad says. “They used white lentils to make the mortar in the walls, as well as a fruit used as a natural glue, as well as jaggery and lime.”
Arshad employs a similar approach in Safekeeping Stories. The installation will be made up of flat, thin, red-clay Lakhori bricks that were a mainstay in Mughal architecture. “I use natural clay from Fujairah for the bricks,” Arshad says. “Lakhori bricks are made with fired clay. They’re only 1.9 centimetres thick, and 10 by 15 centimetres in dimension. They’re tiny, like a book or diary.”
The bricks, however, will be bound by a mortar similar to that used at Bara Imambara. The mortar will also be made out of “edible” materials: “I’m using lime, bael fruit and jaggery,” Arshad says.
The use of these materials is not merely out of nostalgic appreciation for Mughal-era construction.
Lakhori bricks have been deemed obsolete, except in the case of restoration and preservation projects. They were used up to the 20th century, until the British colonisation of India and the widespread use of concrete. However, the bricks are worth protecting and reconsidering in the modern era – especially as we begin exploring more sustainable forms of construction.
“The focus is on safekeeping the Mughal ways by archiving Lakhori bricks,” Arshad says. “Our older ways were far more sustainable. Today, we’re using modern concrete that releases harmful gases, as opposed to clay bricks and their sustainable properties.”
Arshad developed an earlier version of Safekeeping Stories as part of her senior project at AUS with assistant professor Amparo Baquerizas. It has since expanded to include larger references to Mughal architecture and history, while also reimagining the installation as an interactive and participatory work. Arshad is working to develop the project under the mentorship of Christianna Bonin, assistant professor at the university’s College of Architecture, Art and Design.
“We're using newer references, new research to make the current structure,” Arshad says. “[Bonin] has so much experience with art history, and her research expertise is very valuable.”
The Christo and Jeanne-Claude Award ceremony has been held annually since 2013 in honour of the eponymous late art couple. The award is open to UAE students and recent graduates, and serves as a launchpad for artists across the country.
It was established under the patronage of Sheikha Shamsa bint Hamdan Al Nahyan. It is presented by NYU Abu Dhabi in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation (Admaf), and produced in collaboration with NYUAD Art Gallery.
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Date started: March 2016
Founder: Hasib Khan
Based: Dubai
Employees: 40
Amount raised (to date): $3.25m – $750,000 seed funding in 2017 and a Seed round of $2.5m last year. Raised $1.3m from Eureeca investors in January 2021 as part of a Series A round with a $5m target.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Xpanceo
Started: 2018
Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality
Funding: $40 million
Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Countries recognising Palestine
France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra
RACE CARD
5pm: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival Purebred Arabian Cup Conditions (PA); Dh 200,000 (Turf) 1,600m
5.30pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup Conditions (PA); Dh 200,000 (T) 1,600m
6pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Cup Listed (TB); Dh 380,000 (T) 1,600m
6.30pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Group 3 (PA); Dh 500,000 (T) 1,600m
7pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Jewel Crown Group 1 (PA); Dh 5,000,000 (T) 2,200m
7.30pm: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival Handicap (PA); Dh 150,000 (T) 1,400m
8pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 100,000 (T); 1,400m
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Silent Hill f
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rating: 4.5/5
Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE results
Lost to Oman by eight runs
Beat Namibia by three wickets
Lost to Oman by 12 runs
Beat Namibia by 43 runs
UAE fixtures
Free admission. All fixtures broadcast live on icc.tv
Tuesday March 15, v PNG at Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Friday March 18, v Nepal at Dubai International Stadium
Saturday March 19, v PNG at Dubai International Stadium
Monday March 21, v Nepal at Dubai International Stadium
'Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore'
Rating: 3/5
Directed by: David Yates
Starring: Mads Mikkelson, Eddie Redmayne, Ezra Miller, Jude Law
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Fifa Club World Cup:
When: December 6-16
Where: Games to take place at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi and Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain
Defending champions: Real Madrid
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre, twin-turbo V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 582bhp
Torque: 730Nm
Price: Dh649,000
On sale: now
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A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
Company profile
Date started: January, 2014
Founders: Mike Dawson, Varuna Singh, and Benita Rowe
Based: Dubai
Sector: Education technology
Size: Five employees
Investment: $100,000 from the ExpoLive Innovation Grant programme in 2018 and an initial $30,000 pre-seed investment from the Turn8 Accelerator in 2014. Most of the projects are government funded.
Partners/incubators: Turn8 Accelerator; In5 Innovation Centre; Expo Live Innovation Impact Grant Programme; Dubai Future Accelerators; FHI 360; VSO and Consult and Coach for a Cause (C3)
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Western Region Asia Cup T20 Qualifier
Sun Feb 23 – Thu Feb 27, Al Amerat, Oman
The two finalists advance to the Asia qualifier in Malaysia in August
Group A
Bahrain, Maldives, Oman, Qatar
Group B
UAE, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia
Pad Man
Dir: R Balki
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor, Radhika Apte
Three-and-a-half stars
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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A typical week's training for Sebastian, who is competing at the ITU Abu Dhabi World Triathlon on March 8-9:
- Four swim sessions (14km)
- Three bike sessions (200km)
- Four run sessions (45km)
- Two strength and conditioning session (two hours)
- One session therapy session at DISC Dubai
- Two-three hours of stretching and self-maintenance of the body
ITU Abu Dhabi World Triathlon
For more information go to www.abudhabi.triathlon.org.
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Three tips from La Perle's performers
1 The kind of water athletes drink is important. Gwilym Hooson, a 28-year-old British performer who is currently recovering from knee surgery, found that out when the company was still in Studio City, training for 12 hours a day. “The physio team was like: ‘Why is everyone getting cramps?’ And then they realised we had to add salt and sugar to the water,” he says.
2 A little chocolate is a good thing. “It’s emergency energy,” says Craig Paul Smith, La Perle’s head coach and former Cirque du Soleil performer, gesturing to an almost-empty open box of mini chocolate bars on his desk backstage.
3 Take chances, says Young, who has worked all over the world, including most recently at Dragone’s show in China. “Every time we go out of our comfort zone, we learn a lot about ourselves,” she says.
The specs: 2018 Nissan Altima
Price, base / as tested: Dh78,000 / Dh97,650
Engine: 2.5-litre in-line four-cylinder
Power: 182hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 244Nm @ 4,000rpm
Transmission: Continuously variable tranmission
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.6L / 100km
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Specs
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The biog
Born: Kuwait in 1986
Family: She is the youngest of seven siblings
Time in the UAE: 10 years
Hobbies: audiobooks and fitness: she works out every day, enjoying kickboxing and basketball
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Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
