Sikka Art and Design Festival 2025 — Cradle of Creation

Year: 2025
Location: Dubai, UAE
Exhibition: Sikka Art and Design Festival

Cradle of Creation is an installation for Sikka Art and Design Festival inspired by Surah Al Rahman — the verse “يَخْرُجُ مِنْهُمَا اللُّؤْلُؤُ وَالْمَرْجَانُ” (From both of them emerge pearl and coral) — Verse 22, which beautifully illustrates the divine creation of two remarkable treasures: the pearl and coral.

Both natural wonders are formed in layers, a process that symbolizes gradual perfection over time. The growth of these gems occurs when a foreign object, such as a grain of sand or a small organism, enters their bodies. This irritation prompts the secretion of substances that gradually coat and protect the foreign body, forming the layers that eventually become pearls and coral.

Interestingly, while the pearl and coral flourish in saltwater environments, yet some species of coral also thrive in freshwater. This dual adaptability mirrors the concept of balance in creation, as both the pearl and the coral grow and evolve in harmony with the water they inhabit, symbolizing resilience and beauty born from challenges and transformation.