拜特·马哈尔地图丨阿联酋阿布扎比丨Megan Cope,Third Space Studio等

There's an old belief that says "Pearls are formed when raindrops filled with moonlight fall into the sea and are swallowed by oysters."

Bayt al-Mahār (Arabic for Oyster House) is a nomadic gathering space that fosters intercultural dialogue around Pinctada radiata (oysters) and the Arabian Gulf. Through a series of shoreline events in Abu Dhabi, people come together to share knowledge, scrub oysters, and connect through saltwater stories.

The project was initiated by Quandamooka contemporary artist Megan Cope, whose practice centres indigenous stewardship of land and sea, in collaboration with Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. Megan then collaborated with Third Space Studio on the structure and installation, Rashed Ajlouni on the programme, and me to develop the interactive map and the overall visual identity.

The interactive map serves as an artistic backdrop for the Bayt al-Mahār website, using scrollytelling to present the locations and programme of the Abu Dhabi gatherings. I hand-drew the map and the oyster to echo the gestures of traditional hand-picking and scrubbing of the oysters — honouring the tactility of the practice itself. The archipelago is placed at the centre, while the surrounding sea is embellished with lithographic dot patterns inspired by Megan’s work, evoking the shimmer of pearls.

An interesting fact that I’ve learned while doing my research. Oysters are such good caretakers for their environment. As they feed, they filter seawater from harmful particles, which balances the ecosystem around them. And when something irritates them, they respond by layering it with nacre (protective coating), and over time… it becomes a pearl!

Inspiration

Sketches

Development

Storyboards

Social Media

The Scrollytelling Map

Click here to visit the website of the map!